As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2016.

Registration Statement No. 333-        

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



 

FORM S-11
FOR REGISTRATION
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
OF SECURITIES OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE COMPANIES



 

Sachem Capital Corp.

( Exact name of registrant as specified in its governing instruments )



 

   
New York   6798   81-3467779
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

23 Laurel Street
Branford, CT 06405
(203) 433-4736

(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)



 

John L. Villano, CPA
Jeffrey C. Villano
Co-Chief Executive Officers
Sachem Capital Corp.
23 Laurel Street
Branford, CT 06405
(203) 433-4736

(Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)



 

Please send all copies of communications to :

 
Joel J. Goldschmidt, Esq.
Morse, Zelnick, Rose, & Lander, LLP
825 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Tel: (212) 838-8040
Fax: (212) 208-6809
  Brad L. Shiffman, Esq.
Blank Rome LLP
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10174-0208
Tel: (212) 885-5000
Fax: (212) 885-5001


 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

If any of the Securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box: x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check the following box. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

     
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
  Smaller Reporting Company x

 


 
 

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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

   
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price (1)
  Amount of
Registration
Fee (2)
Common Shares, par value $0.001 per share (2) (3)   $ 17,250,000     $ 1,999.28  
Representative’s Warrants (4)   $     $  
Common Shares underlying the Representative’s Warrants (5)   $ 937,500     $ 108.66  
Total   $ 18,187,500     $ 2,107.94  

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416, the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of additional securities as may be issued after the date hereof as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(3) Includes common shares the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.
(4) No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(5) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the shares underlying the representative’s warrants is $937,500, which is equal to 125% of $750,000 (5% of $15,000,000).


 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


 
 

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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is deemed effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

   
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION   DATED OCTOBER 28, 2016

     Common Shares

[GRAPHIC MISSING]  

Sachem Capital Corp.

This is a firm commitment initial public offering of      common shares of Sachem Capital Corp. No public market currently exists for our common shares. We anticipate that the initial public offering price of our common shares will be between $     and $     per share.

We intend to apply to list our common shares for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SACH.” We cannot assure you that our application will be approved.

We are organized and plan to conduct our operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes and intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT beginning with the tax year in which this offering is consummated. In order to enhance our ability to meet the ownership requirements that apply to REITs, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, generally limits ownership by any single shareholder, taking into account capital shares actually owned and deemed to be owned under the rules of ownership attribution by such shareholder, to no more than     % by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding capital stock. Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, also imposes certain restrictions on transferability. See “Description of Capital Shares” and “Certain Provisions of New York Law and of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws” for a more detailed discussion of these restrictions.

Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered with an investment in our common shares.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

   
  Per Share   Total
Public offering price   $          $       
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1)   $          $       
Proceeds to Sachem Capital (before expenses)   $          $       
(1) Does not include a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1% of the gross proceeds of this offering payable to Joseph Gunnar & Co., the representative of the underwriters. See “Underwriting” for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters.

We have granted a 45-day option to the representative of the underwriters to purchase up to an additional      common shares to cover overallotments, if any.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to purchasers in the offering on or about            , 2016.

Joseph Gunnar & Co.

           , 2016


 
 

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SUMMARY     1  
RISK FACTORS     14  
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS     36  
USE OF PROCEEDS     37  
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTION POLICY     38  
DILUTION     39  
CAPITALIZATION     40  
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS     41  
BUSINESS     51  
CORPORATE STRUCTURE — REIT STATUS     63  
MANAGEMENT     64  
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION     67  
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS     71  
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS     72  
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SHARES     73  
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF NEW YORK LAW AND OF OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS     78  
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE     81  
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS     82  
POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES     100  
UNDERWRITING     103  
LEGAL MATTERS     111  
EXPERTS     111  
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION     111  
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS     F-1  
INDEX TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS     F-1  

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus that we may specifically authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to offer and sell our securities. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

For investors outside the United States: We have not and the underwriters have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes and the information set forth under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in each case included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Prior to the date of this offering our business operated as a Connecticut limited liability company under the name Sachem Capital Partners, LLC (“SCP”). In anticipation of this offering, SCP and Sachem Capital Corp. (“Sachem Capital”) have entered into an Exchange Agreement pursuant to which SCP will transfer all of its assets and liabilities to Sachem Capital in exchange for 6,283,237 Sachem Capital common shares, which it will then distribute to its members, pro rata in accordance with their capital account balances, in full liquidation of their membership interests. We expect to consummate the exchange on or prior to the date of this prospectus. Except as otherwise specifically noted, all information in this prospectus assumes the consummation of the exchange described above.

All references in this prospectus to “us,” “we,” or “our,” are references to Sachem Capital and its predecessor, SCP, unless specified otherwise.

Our Company

We are a Connecticut-based real estate finance company that specializes in originating, underwriting, funding, servicing and managing a portfolio of short-term ( i.e. , three years or less) loans secured by first mortgage liens on real property located primarily in Connecticut. Each loan is also personally guaranteed by the principal(s) of the borrower, which guaranty is typically collaterally secured by a pledge of the guarantor’s interest in the borrower. Our typical borrower is a small real estate investor who will use the proceeds to fund its acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, development and/or improvement of residential or commercial properties located primarily in Connecticut held for investment or sale. The property may or may not be income producing. We do not lend to owner-occupants. Our loans are referred to in the real estate finance industry as “hard money loans.”

We believe that upon completion of this offering we will meet all of the requirements to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes and we intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT beginning with the year in which this offering is consummated.

Since commencing operations in 2010, SCP has made over 365 loans, not including renewals or extensions of existing loans. At June 30, 2016, (i) SCP’s loan portfolio included 193 loans with an aggregate loan amount of approximately $30.4 million with the principal amount of individual loans ranging from $20,000 to $1.7 million, (ii) the average original principal amount of the loans in SCP’s portfolio was $162,124 and the median loan amount was $110,000 and (iii) over 85% of the loans had a principal amount of $250,000 or less. At December 31, 2015, (i) SCP’s loan portfolio included 185 loans with an aggregate loan amount of approximately $27.5 million with the principal amount of individual loans ranging from $20,000 to $1.7 million, (ii) the average original principal amount of the loans in SCP’s portfolio was $147,000 and the median loan amount was $113,700 and (iii) over 62% of the loans had a principal amount of $250,000 or less. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 unfunded commitments for future advances under construction loans totaled $950,658 and $1,264,512, respectively.

Our loans typically have a maximum initial term of three years and bear interest at a fixed rate of 9% to 12% per year and a default rate for non-payment of 18%. In addition, we usually receive origination fees, or “points,” ranging from 2% to 5% of the original principal amount of the loan as well as other fees relating to underwriting, funding and managing the loan. When we renew or extend a loan we generally receive additional “points” and other fees. Interest is always payable monthly in arrears. As a matter of policy, we do not make any loans if the original principal amount of the loan exceeds 65% of the value of the property securing the loan (referred to as the “loan-to-value ratio”). In the case of construction loans, the loan-to-value ratio is based on the post-construction value of the property. In the case of loans having a principal amount in excess of $500,000, we require a formal appraisal by a licensed appraiser. In the case of smaller loans, we

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rely on readily available market data, including tax assessment rolls, recent sales transactions and brokers to evaluate the strength of the collateral. Finally, we will adopt a policy, to take effect at the time this offering becomes effective, that will limit the maximum amount of any loan we fund to a single borrower or a group of affiliated borrowers to 10% of the aggregate amount of our loan portfolio after taking into account the loan under consideration.

Our principal executive officers are experienced in hard money lending under various economic and market conditions. Our founders and co-chief executive officers, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, spend a significant portion of their time on business development as well as on underwriting, structuring and servicing each loan in our portfolio. A principal source of new transactions has been repeat business from existing and former customers and their referral of new business. We also receive leads for new business from banks, brokers, attorneys and web-based advertising.

Our Competitive Strengths

We believe our competitive advantages include the following:

Experienced management team.   Our senior executive officers have successfully originated and serviced our portfolio of short-term, real estate mortgage loans generating attractive annual returns under varying economic and real estate market conditions.
Long-standing relationships.   At June 30, 2016, 20% of SCP’s loan portfolio consisted of loans to borrowers with whom it has a long-term relationship, including JJV, LLC, the manager of SCP, which accounts for 4.5% of our loan portfolio. Existing borrowers also provide new leads that could result in new lending opportunities.
Knowledge of the market.   We have intimate knowledge of the Connecticut real estate market, which enhances our ability to identify attractive opportunities and helps distinguish us from many of our competitors.
Disciplined lending.   We utilize rigorous underwriting and loan closing procedures that include numerous checks and balances to evaluate the risks and merits of each potential transaction.
Vertically-integrated loan origination platform.   We manage and control the loan process from origination through closing with our own personnel or independent third parties, including legal counsel and appraisers, with whom we have long relationships.
Structuring flexibility.   As a small, non-bank, neighborhood-focused real estate lender, we can move quickly and have much more flexibility than traditional lenders to structure loans to suit the needs of our clients.
No legacy issues.   Unlike many of our competitors, we are not burdened by distressed legacy real estate assets.

Market Opportunity

We believe there is a significant market opportunity for a well-capitalized “hard money” lender to originate attractively priced loans to small-scale real estate developers with strong equity positions ( i.e., good collateral), particularly in Connecticut where real estate values in many neighborhoods are stable and substandard properties are being improved, rehabilitated and renovated. We also believe these developers would prefer to borrow from us rather than other lending sources because of our flexibility in structuring loans to suit their needs, our lending criteria, which places greater emphasis on the value of the collateral rather than the property cash flow or credit of the borrower, and our ability to close quickly.

Our Objectives and Strategy

Our primary objective is to grow our loan portfolio while protecting and preserving capital in a manner that provides for attractive risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders over the long term principally through dividends. We intend to achieve this objective by continuing to focus on selectively originating, managing and servicing a portfolio of first mortgage real estate loans designed to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns across a variety of market conditions and economic cycles. We believe that our ability to react quickly to the

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needs of borrowers, our flexibility in terms of structuring loans to meet the needs of borrowers, our intimate knowledge of the Connecticut real estate market, our expertise in “hard money” lending and our focus on newly originated first mortgage loans, should enable us to achieve this objective. Nevertheless, we will remain flexible in order to take advantage of other real estate opportunities that may arise from time to time, whether they relate to the mortgage market or to direct or indirect investments in real estate.

Our strategy to achieve our objective includes the following:

capitalize on opportunities created by the long-term structural changes in the real estate lending market and the continuing lack of liquidity in the commercial and investment real estate markets;
take advantage of the prevailing economic environment as well as economic, political and social trends that may impact real estate lending currently and in the future as well as the outlook for real estate in general and particular asset classes;
remain flexible in order to capitalize on changing sets of investment opportunities that may be present in the various points of an economic cycle; and
operate so as to qualify as a REIT and for an exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act.

Leverage Policies/Financing Strategy

We use a combination of equity capital and the proceeds of debt financing to fund our operations. We do not have any formal policy limiting the amount of debt we may incur. At June 30, 2016, debt proceeds represented 21.8% of our total capital. However, in order to grow the business and satisfy the REIT requirement that we dividend at least 90% of net profits, we expect to increase our level of debt over time to approximately 50% of capital.

Under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Agreement (described below), we may not incur any additional indebtedness without Bankwell’s consent. Depending on various factors we may, in the future, decide to take on additional debt to expand our mortgage loan origination activities in order to increase the potential returns to our shareholders. Although we have no pre-set guidelines in terms of leverage ratio, the amount of leverage we will deploy will depend on our assessment of a variety of factors, which may include the liquidity of the real estate market in which most of our collateral is located, employment rates, general economic conditions, the cost of funds relative to the yield curve, the potential for losses and extension risk in our portfolio, the gap between the duration of our assets and liabilities, our opinion of the creditworthiness of our borrowers, the value of the collateral underlying our portfolio, and our outlook for interest rates and property values. We intend to use leverage for the sole purpose of financing our portfolio and not for the purpose of speculating on changes in interest rates.

SCP commenced operations in December 2010 with no capital. By January 2011, it had raised $443,000 of initial capital, of which $70,000 was contributed by an affiliate of Jeffrey Villano. At June 30, 2016, members’ equity was $26.1 million. Through June 30, 2016, JJV, LLC (“JJV”), the managing member of SCP, whose principals are Jeffrey Villano and John Villano, Sachem Capital’s co-chief executive officers, has contributed an aggregate of $794,000 to SCP’s capital. In addition, the Villano brothers, individually and through other affiliates, contributed a total of an additional $1,926,000 of capital to SCP. JJV’s initial capital contribution of $35,000 was made in August 2011.

We currently have a $15.0 million line of credit with Bankwell Bank, a Connecticut banking corporation (“Bankwell”), that we can draw upon, from time to time, to fund loans (the “Bankwell Credit Line”). As of June 30, 2016, the outstanding balance on the Bankwell Credit Line was $7.275 million. Borrowings under the Bankwell Credit Line bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) a variable rate equal to the sum of the prime rate of interest as in effect from time to time (3.50% as of October 1, 2016) plus 3.0% or (ii) 6.25% per annum. The Bankwell Credit Line expires and the outstanding indebtedness thereunder will become due and payable in full on March 15, 2018. Assuming we are not then in default under the terms of the Commercial Revolving Loan and Security Agreement (the “Bankwell Credit Agreement”) with Bankwell, we have the option to repay the outstanding balance, together with all accrued interest thereon in 36 equal monthly installments beginning April 15, 2019.

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Loan Origination and Underwriting Process

The primary focus of our business will be on originating, funding and servicing short-term ( i.e., three years or less) loans secured by first mortgage liens on real estate. We will be responsible for each stage of the lending process, including: (1) sourcing deals from brokers, attorneys, bankers and other third party referral sources as well as from real estate owners, operators, developers and investors and through web-based advertising; (2) performing due diligence with respect to underwriting the loans; (3) undertaking risk management with respect to each loan and our aggregate portfolio; (4) executing the closing of the loan; and (5) managing the loan post-closing. After identifying a particular lending opportunity, we will perform financial, operational, credit and legal due diligence of the borrower and its principals and evaluate the strength of the collateral to assess the risks of the investment. We will analyze the opportunity and conduct follow-up due diligence as part of the underwriting process. The key factors in the underwriter process will be the loan-to-value ratio, the location of the property and transactional documentation. We will also evaluate the impact of each loan transaction on our existing loan portfolio. In particular, we will need to evaluate whether the new loan would cause our portfolio to be too heavily concentrated with, or cause too much risk exposure to, any one borrower, class of real estate, neighborhood, or other issues. If we determine that a proposed investment presents excessive concentration risk, we will forego the opportunity. As a REIT, we will also need to determine the impact of each loan transaction on our ability to maintain our REIT qualification. Unlike SCP, which relied on JJV, its manager, to perform all of these tasks, we will rely exclusively on our own employees. However, in either case the people who are actually doing the work are the same — John and Jeffrey Villano.

Summary Risk Factors

An investment in our common shares involves various risks. You should consider carefully the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors”, many of which are listed below, beginning on page 14 of this prospectus before purchasing our common shares. If any of these risks occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, prospects and ability to make distributions to our shareholders could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, and you may lose some or all of your investment.

Our loan origination activities, revenues and profits are limited by available funds.
We operate in a highly competitive market and competition may limit our ability to originate loans with favorable terms and interest rates.
We may change our investment, leverage, financing and operating strategies, policies or procedures without shareholder consent.
Management has broad authority to make lending decisions.
Our future success depends on the continued efforts of our senior executives and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.
If we overestimate the value the collateral securing the loan, we may experience losses.
Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may adversely impact the real estate industry and, hence, our business.
Security breaches and interruptions could expose us to liability.
Difficult conditions in the markets for mortgages and mortgage-related assets as well as the broader financial markets have resulted in a significant contraction in liquidity for mortgages and mortgage-related assets.
Short-term loans may involve a greater risk of loss than traditional mortgage loans.
We may be subject to “lender liability” claims.
An increase in the rate of prepayment rates may have an adverse impact on the value of our portfolio as well as our revenue and income.

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Our loan portfolio is illiquid.
At June 30, 2016, approximately 95.4% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of our loan portfolio is secured by properties located in Connecticut. The geographic concentration of our loan portfolio may make our revenues and the values of the mortgages and real estate securing our portfolio vulnerable to adverse changes in local and regional economic conditions.
A prolonged economic slowdown, a lengthy or severe recession or declining real estate values could impair our investments and harm our operations.
Our due diligence may not reveal all of a borrower’s liabilities or other risks.
Loans to investors have greater risks than loans to homeowners.
In the event of a default we may not be able to enforce our rights.
We do not require borrowers to fund an interest reserve.
Interest rate fluctuations could reduce our income.
Liability relating to environmental matters may adversely impact the value of properties securing our loans.
Defaults on our loans may cause declines in revenues and net income.
Our revenues and the value of our portfolio may be negatively affected by casualty events occurring on properties securing our loans.
Borrower concentration could lead to significant losses.
Our existing credit facility has numerous covenants, which could restrict our growth or lead to a default.
Our access to additional funding may be limited.
We have no formal corporate policy and none of our governance documents limit our ability to borrow money. Our use of leverage may adversely affect the return on our assets and may reduce cash available for distribution to our shareholders, as well as increase losses when economic conditions are unfavorable.
Our management has no experience managing a REIT and limited experience managing a portfolio of assets in the manner necessary to maintain an exemption under the Investment Company Act.
Complying with REIT requirements may hinder our ability to maximize profits, which would reduce the amount of cash available to be distributed to our shareholders.
If we fail to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT we would be subject us to U.S. federal income tax and applicable state and local taxes.
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and may require us to incur debt or sell assets to make such distributions.
Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may face tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.
Our qualification as a REIT may depend on the accuracy of legal opinions or advice rendered or given and the inaccuracy of any such opinions, advice or statements may adversely affect our REIT qualification and result in significant corporate-level tax.
We may choose to make distributions in our common shares, in which case you may be required to pay income taxes in excess of the cash dividends you receive.
Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividend income from regular corporations, which could adversely affect the value of our common shares.
Liquidation of our assets may jeopardize our REIT qualification.

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The ownership limitation in our certificate of incorporation, as amended, may not prevent five or fewer shareholders from acquiring control and may inhibit market activity in our common shares and restrict our business combination opportunities.
The tax on prohibited transactions may limit our ability to engage in various transactions that may be beneficial to us or our shareholders.
We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could adversely impact the market price of our common shares.
We may not generate sufficient cash to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements.
We could be materially and adversely affected if we cannot qualify for an exemption from the Investment Company Act.
After this offering we will still be effectively controlled by John L. Villano CPA and Jeffrey C. Villano, our founders, senior executive officers and two largest shareholders.
We expect to incur additional operating costs after this offering is consummated.
There has never been and may never be an active trading market for our shares.
The market for our common share could be extremely volatile.
We may subject to the “penny stock” rules”.
We are an emerging growth company and, as such, are exempt from complying with certain disclosure requirements and other standards applicable to public companies.

Our Organizational Structure

We were organized as a New York corporation in January 2016 under the name HML Capital Corp. Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will change our name to Sachem Capital Corp. and also enter into an Exchange Agreement with SCP, pursuant to which Sachem Capital will acquire all of SCP’s assets and assume all of SCP’s liabilities in exchange for 6,283,237 of its common shares and the assumption of SCP’s obligations under the Bankwell Credit Line. Immediately thereafter, SCP will distribute those shares to its members in full liquidation of their membership interests in SCP, pro rata in accordance with the members’ positive capital account balances. The closings of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement and the liquidation of SCP, will occur simultaneously with or immediately before this offering. For accounting purposes, the consummation of the exchange transaction will be treated as a recapitalization of SCP.

The pre-offering capitalization of Sachem Capital was based on discussions with the representative and took into account (i) SCP’s historical financial performance, including revenues, net profits, cash flow from operations and distributions to members, (ii) our prospects (taking into account, among other things, any anticipated changes as a result of the change in SCP’s status from a limited liability company to a regular C corporation and our operation as a REIT for income tax purposes) and (iii) the market value of comparable public companies. The parties agreed to value Sachem Capital at an amount equal to approximately 164% of SCP’s members’ equity at June 30, 2016, which was then divided by the proposed initial public offering price to arrive at the pre-offering capitalization of Sachem Capital. A portion of these shares were allocated to the founders of Sachem Capital and the balance to the members of SCP. The result is that each member of SCP is expected to receive Sachem Capital common shares having a value of approximately $1.206 for each $1.00 in their capital account.

JJV, whose members include various members of the Villano family, in the liquidation of SCP will receive         common shares, or approximately   % of the common shares to be issued in the exchange. In addition, the Villano brothers, individually and through their affiliates, will receive an additional         common shares, or   % of the common shares issued in the exchange. In addition, Jeffrey Villano and John Villano, were each issued 1,085,000 common shares of Sachem Capital upon its formation. Accordingly, after giving effect to the exchange but immediately prior to this offering, in total, Jeffrey and John Villano, collectively, will beneficially own         common shares (or   %) of Sachem Capital’s common shares.

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As a consequence of the exchange and the consummation of this offering, we expect various changes to our operations, some of which could adversely impact our financial performance. First, in terms of management, our business will no longer be managed by a separate, although related, entity. Rather, Jeffrey and John Villano, our co-founders, who are also the managing members of JJV and who effectively managed our entire operations, will become full-time employees of Sachem Capital ( i.e., co-chief executive officers) and will continue to manage our business in that capacity. We have entered into employment agreements with each of Jeffrey and John Villano, which set forth the terms of their employment, including their duties and obligations to us, restrictions on engaging in business activities unrelated to our business, specifying their compensation, including salaries and fringe benefits, and their rights upon termination of employment. The Villanos have agreed to terminate all of their other business activities and devote 100% of their time and efforts to our business. Second, from a governance standpoint, the Villanos will no longer have absolute control over our operations as the managers. Rather, we will be governed by a board of directors initially consisting of five members, of which a majority, in accordance with NASDAQ listing requirements and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), will be “independent” as such term is defined in Section 10A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, we will establish committees made up mostly or entirely of independent directors to oversee certain aspects of our administration and operations and adopt various policies and procedures that encourage good governance and that are designed to prevent self-dealing and other forms of corporate misconduct. Finally, in terms of our operations, we expect an overall increase in our operating expenses due to increases in rent, professional fees, insurance and other expenses relating to our status as a publicly-held, reporting company as well as a REIT. However, the management fees that were payable to JJV will be eliminated and, in lieu thereof, we will pay salary and other forms of compensation to the Villanos.

REIT Qualification

We believe that upon consummation of this offering, we will qualify as a REIT and that it is in the best interests of our shareholders that we operate as a REIT. We intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT for the year in which this offering is consummated or as soon as practicable thereafter. As a REIT, we will be required to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our shareholders on an annual basis. We cannot assure you that we will qualify as a REIT or that, even if we do qualify initially, we will be able to maintain REIT status for any particular period of time. We also intend to operate our business in a manner that will permit us to maintain an exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act.

Our qualification as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual investment and operating results, various complex requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our compliance with the distributions requirements applicable to REITs and the diversity of ownership of our outstanding common shares. Given that our founders and senior executive officers, John L. Villano and Jeffrey C. Villano, own a significant portion of our outstanding capital shares, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain that qualification.

So long as we qualify as a REIT, we, generally, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income that we distribute currently to our shareholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year during which we lose our REIT qualification. Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income or property.

Distribution Policy

U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its taxable income. We intend to pay regular quarterly dividends in an amount necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT. However, any distributions we make to our shareholders, the amount of such dividend and whether such dividend is payable in cash, common shares or other property, or a combination thereof, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our actual results of operations

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and liquidity. These results and our ability to pay distributions will be affected by various factors, including the net interest and other income from our portfolio, our operating expenses and other expenditures. For more information, see “Distribution Policy.”

In addition, in order to comply with certain REIT qualification requirements, we will, before the end of any REIT taxable year in which we have accumulated earnings and profits attributable to a non-REIT year, declare a dividend to our shareholders to distribute such accumulated earnings and profits (a “Purging Distribution”). As of January 1, 2016 we had no accumulated earnings and profits.

Restrictions Relating to our Common Shares

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, includes several provisions that are designed to ensure that we satisfy various Code-imposed requirements applicable to REITS including the following:

Shareholders will be prohibited from beneficially or constructively owning, applying certain attribution rules under the Code, more than     % by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding capital shares. This restriction will not apply to John L. Villano and Jeffrey C. Villano, our founders and our senior executive officers, who, immediately after the consummation of this offering, will own     % and     %, respectively, of our outstanding common shares. In addition, our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, waive the ownership limit with respect to a particular shareholder if it is presented with evidence satisfactory to it that such ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our qualification as a REIT.
Shareholders will not be allowed to transfer their shares of our capital stock if, as a result of such transfer, we would have fewer than 100 shareholders.
Any ownership or purported transfer of our capital shares in violation of the foregoing restrictions will result in the shares so owned or transferred being automatically transferred to a charitable trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, and the purported owner or transferee acquiring no rights in those shares. If a transfer to a charitable trust would be ineffective for any reason to prevent a violation of the restriction, the transfer resulting in the violation will be void from the time of the purported transfer.

The foregoing limitations and restrictions could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for our capital shares or otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders.

Investment Company Act Exemption

We intend to conduct our operations so that we are not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of the issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. Government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We will rely on the exception set forth in Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act that excludes from the definition of investment company “[a]ny person who is not engaged in the business of issuing redeemable securities, face-amount certificates of the installment type or periodic payment plan certificates, and who is primarily engaged in one or more of the following businesses†o (C) purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.” The SEC generally requires that, for the exception provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) to be available, at least 55% of an entity’s assets be comprised of mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate, also known as “qualifying interests,” and at least another 25% of the entity’s assets must be comprised of additional qualifying interests or real estate-type interests (with no more than 20% of the entity’s assets comprised of miscellaneous assets). At the present time, we qualify for the exemption under this section and our current intention is to continue to focus on originating short term loans secured by first mortgages on real property. However, if, in the future, we do acquire non-real estate assets without the acquisition of substantial real estate assets, we may qualify as an “investment company” and be required to register as such under the Investment Company Act, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

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Emerging Growth Company

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) and, for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to have our independent registered public accounting firm audit our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As an emerging growth company we can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We intend to avail ourselves of these exemptions. Once adopted, we are obligated to abide by our decision until we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, which will occur upon the earliest of: (i) the end of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of this offering; (ii) the first fiscal year after our annual gross revenue are $1.0 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or (iv) the end of any fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700 million as of the end of the second quarter of that fiscal year.

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405 and our telephone number is (203) 433-4736. The URL for our website is www.sachemcapitalpartners.com . The information contained on or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into, and you must not consider the information to be a part of, this prospectus.

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The Offering

Securities Offered:    
         common shares
Initial public offering price per share:    
    $    
Over-allotment Option:    
    We have granted the representative a 45-day option to purchase up to      common shares to cover over-allotments.
Shares Outstanding After This
Offering:
   
         common shares (or       common shares if the representative’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). There are no other shares of our capital stock outstanding.
Proposed NASDAQ Trading Symbol:    
    SACH
Use of Proceeds:    
    We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $     (or approximately $     if the representative’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and our estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (i) to increase the size of our loan portfolio; (ii) capital expenditures; and (iii) for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Actual allocation of the proceeds of the offering will ultimately be determined by management based on its assessment of the long-term prospects of the business and real estate markets and individual evaluation of investment opportunities. Pending the application of any portion of the net proceeds, we will invest such funds in interest bearing accounts and short-term, interest bearing securities that are consistent with our intention to qualify as a REIT and maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act. These investments are expected to provide lower returns than those we will seek to achieve from our loan portfolio.
Ownership Limitations and Restrictions:    
    Except as noted below, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, restricts any shareholder from owning, actually, beneficially or constructively, more than     % of the shares of our outstanding capital stock, by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive. John L. Villano CPA and Jeffrey C. Villano, our founders and co-chief executive officers, will be exempt from this restriction. Following this offering, we expect that John L. Villano and Jeffrey C. Villano will beneficially own     % and     %, respectively, of our outstanding common shares. In addition, our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, waive the ownership limit with respect to a particular shareholder if it is presented with evidence satisfactory to it that such ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. See “Description of Capital Shares — Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” in this prospectus.
Risk Factors:    
    An investment in our common shares involves risks, and prospective investors should carefully consider the matters discussed under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of this prospectus.

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Unless we indicate otherwise, all information in this prospectus:

assumes that we will have 8,533,237 common shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to this offering, including 6,283,237 common shares that we will issue pursuant to the Exchange Agreement with SCP;
excludes common shares issuable upon exercise of options and warrants outstanding as of the date of this prospectus;
excludes      common shares issuable upon exercise of the representative’s warrants; and
assumes no exercise of the over-allotment option by the representative.

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Summary Financial Information

The following tables set forth, for the periods and at the dates indicated, summary financial data of SCP. The data is derived primarily from SCP’s historical financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and the balance sheet data at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are derived from SCP’s audited financial statements and the statements of operations data for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the six months ended June 30, 2015 and the balance sheet data at June 30, 2016 are derived from SCP’s unaudited financial statements. The unaudited financial statements include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments that management considers necessary for the fair presentation of the financial information set forth in those statements. Historical results are not indicative of the results to be expected in the future and results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.

In addition, the table sets forth certain pro forma and pro forma, as adjusted information for Sachem Capital. The pro forma information gives effect to the following events as if they occurred on the first day of the period presented: (i) the issuance of 8,533,237 common shares prior to the consummation of this offering, including 6,283,237 common shares that will be issued to SCP pursuant to the Exchange Agreement in exchange for all of the assets and liabilities of SCP; (ii) the elimination of the management fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP; (iii) the direct payment of salaries to John Villano and Jeffrey Villano; (iv) the direct payment of origination fees to us rather than to JJV; and (v) the normalization of various other operating expenses, such as rent. The pro forma, as adjusted data gives effect to the pro forma adjustments as well as the sale of         common shares at an initial public offering price per share of $      and the receipt of $        of net proceeds therefrom as set forth in this prospectus. For accounting purposes, the consummation of the exchange transaction will be treated as a recapitalization of SCP.

You should read the following selected financial data in conjunction with “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Statement of Operations Data (actual):

       
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
  Years Ended
December 31,
     2016   2015   2015   2014
     (unaudited)   (audited)
Interest income from loans   $ 1,735,200     $ 915,894     $ 2,477,876     $ 1,418,814  
Total revenue   $ 1,973,691     $ 1,032,152     $ 2,786,724     $ 1,559,407  
Total operating costs and expenses   $ 421,340     $ 165,374     $ 479,821     $ 89,595  
Net income   $ 1,552,351     $ 866,778     $ 2,306,903     $ 1,469,812  

Balance Sheet Data (actual):

   
  As at
June 30,
2016
  As at
December 31,
2015
     (unaudited)   (audited)
Cash   $ 1,472,602     $ 1,834,082  
Mortgages receivable   $ 30,395,476     $ 27,532,867  
Total assets   $ 34,092,045     $ 30,795,486  
Line of credit   $ 7,275,000     $ 6,000,000  
Total liabilities   $ 8,036,753     $ 6,565,969  
Members’ equity   $ 26,055,292     $ 24,229,517  

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Other Operational Data (actual):

       
  As at June 30,   As at December 31,
     2016   2015   2015   2014
     (unaudited)   (audited)
Residential mortgages   $ 21,258,849     $ 15,475,268     $ 18,820,509     $ 10,482,448  
Commercial mortgages     6,263,296       3,235,311       5,712,566       3,369,620  
Land mortgages     2,337,813       1,687,449       2,619,792       649,951  
Mixed use     535,518       367,000       380,000       347,000  
Total mortgages receivable   $ 30,395,476     $ 20,765,028     $ 27,532,867     $ 14,849,019  

Pro forma and pro forma, as adjusted Statement of Operations Data:

   
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2016
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2015
Interest income from loans   $ 1,735,200     $ 2,477,876  
Total revenue   $ 2,229,613     $ 2,891,002  
Total operating costs and expenses   $ 607,823     $ 947,414  
Net income   $ 1,621,790     $ 1,943,588  
Pro forma net income per common share – basic and diluted   $ 0.19     $ 0.23  
Pro forma weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and
diluted
    8,533,237       8,533,237  
Pro forma, as adjusted net income per common share – basic and diluted                  
Pro forma, as adjusted weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted                  

Pro forma and pro forma as adjusted balance sheet information:

   
  June 30, 2016
     Pro Forma   Pro Forma, As
Adjusted
Cash   $ 1,746,845     $       
Mortgages receivable, net   $ 30,395,476     $  
Total assets   $ 34,366,288     $  
Line of credit   $ 7,275,000     $  
Total liabilities   $ 8,604,872     $  
Shareholders’ equity   $ 25,761,416     $  

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors and all other information contained in this prospectus before purchasing our common shares. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity and/or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, and you may lose some or all of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to Our Business

Our loan origination activities, revenues and profits are limited by available funds. If we do not increase our working capital, we will not be able to grow our business.

As a real estate finance company, our revenue and net income is limited to interest received or accrued on our loan portfolio. Our ability to originate real estate loans is limited by the funds at our disposal. At June 30, 2016, we had cash of approximately $1.47 million and $7.725 million of additional borrowing availability under the Bankwell Credit Line. We intend to use these amounts as well as a majority of the net proceeds from this offering and the proceeds from the repayment of loans outstanding, to originate new real estate loans. However, we cannot assure you that these funds will be sufficient to enable us to fully capitalize on the increase demand for real estate loans that we usually fund.

We operate in a highly competitive market and competition may limit our ability to originate loans with favorable interest rates.

We operate in a highly competitive market and we believe these conditions will persist for the foreseeable future as the financial services industry continues to consolidate, producing larger, better capitalized and more geographically diverse companies with broad product and service offerings. Our existing and potential future competitors includes other “hard money” lenders, mortgage REITs, specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, banks, mortgage banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, private equity funds, hedge funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms, non-bank financial institutions, governmental bodies, family offices and high net worth individuals. We may also compete with companies that partner with and/or receive government financing. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. In addition, larger and more established competitors may enjoy significant competitive advantages, including enhanced operating efficiencies, more extensive referral networks, greater and more favorable access to investment capital and more desirable lending opportunities. Several of these competitors, including mortgage REITs, have recently raised or are expected to raise, significant amounts of capital, which enables them to make larger loans or a greater number of loans. Some competitors may also have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that may not be available to us, such as funding from various governmental agencies or under various governmental programs for which we are not eligible. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of possible loan transactions or to offer more favorable financing terms than we would. Finally, as a REIT and because we operate in a manner so as to be exempt from the requirements of the Investment Company Act, we may face further restrictions to which some of our competitors may not be subject. For example, we may find that the pool of potential qualified borrowers available to us is limited. We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may change our investment, leverage, financing and operating strategies, policies or procedures without shareholder consent, which may adversely affect the market value of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to shareholders.

Currently, we have no policies in place that limit or restrict our ability to borrow money or raise capital by issuing debt securities. Similarly, we have only a limited number of policies regarding underwriting criteria, loan metrics and operations in general. We may amend or revise our existing policies or adopt new ones, whether the policies relate to growth strategy, operations, indebtedness, capitalization, financing

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alternatives and underwriting criteria and guidelines, or approve transactions that deviate from our existing policies at any time, without a vote of, or notice to, our shareholders. For example, we may decide that in order to compete effectively, we should relax our underwriting guidelines and make riskier loans, which could result in a higher default rate on our portfolio. We may also decide to expand our business focus to other targeted asset classes, such as participation interests in mortgage loans, mezzanine loans and subordinate interests in mortgage loans. We could also decide to adopt investment strategies that include securitizing our portfolio, hedging transactions and swaps. We may even decide to broaden our business to include acquisitions of real estate assets, which we may or may not operate. Finally, as the market evolves, we may determine that the residential and commercial real estate markets do not offer the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns for an investment strategy that is consistent with our intention to elect and qualify to be taxed as a REIT and to operate in a manner to remain exempt from registration under the Investment Company Act. If we believe it would be advisable for us to be a more active seller of loans and securities, we may determine that we should conduct such business through a taxable REIT subsidiary or that we should cease to maintain our REIT qualification. These changes may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk, financing risk and real estate market fluctuations, which could adversely affect our business, operations and financial conditions as well as the market price of our common shares.

Management has broad authority to make lending decisions. If management fails to generate attractive risk-adjusted loans on a consistent basis, our revenue and income could be materially and adversely affected and the market price of a share of our common shares is likely to decrease.

Our senior executives have unrestricted authority to originate, structure and fund loans subject to whatever policies our board of directors have adopted. Thus, management could authorize transactions that may be costly and/or risky, which could result in returns that are substantially below expectations or that result in losses, which would materially and adversely affect our business operations and results. Further, management’s decisions may not fully reflect the best interests of our shareholders. Our board of directors may periodically review our underwriting guidelines but will not, and will not be required to, review all of our proposed loans. In conducting periodic reviews, our board of directors will rely primarily on information provided to them by management.

Our future success depends on the continued efforts of our senior executive officers and our ability to attract and retain additional qualified management, marketing, technical, and sales executives and personnel.

Our future success depends to a significant extent on the continued efforts of our founders and co-chief executive officers, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano. They generate most, if not all, of our loan applications, supervise all aspects of the underwriting and due diligence process in connection with each loan, structure each loan and have absolute authority (subject only to the maximum amount of the loan) as to whether or not to approve the loan. We do not maintain key person life insurance for either of the Villanos. If either one of them is unable or unwilling to continue to serve as an executive officer on a full-time basis, our business and operations may be adversely affected.

As our business grows we will also need to recruit, train and retain additional managerial and administrative personnel as we begin to deploy the net proceeds and grow our business. This includes experienced real estate finance professionals, sales and marketing people, finance and accounting personnel, information technology professionals as well as administrative and clerical staff to support them. In addition, to manage our anticipated development and expansion, we must implement and upgrade our managerial, operational and financial systems and expand our facilities. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. The loss of any of our key executives, or the failure to attract, integrate, motivate, and retain additional key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business. We compete for such personnel against numerous companies, including larger, more established companies with significantly greater financial resources than we possess. This may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, give rise to operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. In addition, our expanded operations could lead to significant incremental operating costs and may divert financial resources from other projects. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in attracting, training, managing or retaining the personnel we need to manage our growth, and the failure to do so could

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have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations. If we cannot effectively manage our expected development and expansion, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to increase our revenue and profits could be jeopardized and we may not be able to implement our overall business strategy.

Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may adversely impact the real estate industry generally and our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Over the last few years there have been a number of high profile and successful terror attacks around the world including in the United States. In addition, over the last several months there have been a number of violent attacks on law enforcement officers in various cities in the United States. Any future terrorist attacks or a prolonged period of civil unrest, the anticipation of any such attacks, and the consequences of any military or other response by the United States and its allies may have an adverse impact on the U.S. financial markets and the economy in general. We cannot predict the severity of the effect that any such future events would have on the U.S. financial markets, including the real estate capital markets, the economy or our business. Terrorist attacks and prolonged periods of civil unrest could also adversely affect the credit quality of some of our loan portfolio, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our common shares.

The enactment of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, or the TRIA, and the subsequent enactment of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, which extended TRIA through the end of 2020, requires insurers to make terrorism insurance available under their property and casualty insurance policies in order to receive federal compensation under TRIA for insured losses. However, this legislation does not regulate the pricing of such insurance. The absence of affordable insurance coverage may adversely affect the general real estate lending market, lending volume and the market’s overall liquidity and may reduce the number of suitable financing opportunities available to us and the pace at which we are able to make loans. If property owners are unable to obtain affordable insurance coverage, the value of their properties could decline and in the event of an uninsured loss, we could lose all or a portion of our investment.

Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.

In the ordinary course of our business, we may acquire and store sensitive data on our network, such as our proprietary business information and personally identifiable information of our prospective and current borrowers. The secure processing and maintenance of this information is critical to our business strategy. Despite our security measures, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Any such breach could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, regulatory penalties, disruption to our operations and the services we provide to customers or damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect us.

Risks Related to Our Portfolio

If we overestimate the value the collateral securing the loan, we may experience losses.

Loan decisions are typically made based on the value of the collateral securing the loan rather than the credit of the borrower or the cash flow from the property. We cannot assure you that our assessments will always be accurate or the circumstances relating to the collateral or, for that matter, the borrower, will not change during the loan term, which could lead to losses and write-offs. Losses and write-offs could materially and adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition and the market price of our common shares. Despite its conservative underwriting policy, specifically that the loan-to-value ratio may not exceed 65%, since its inception in December 2010, SCP has foreclosed on one property and acquired eight other properties from five different borrowers who were in default of their obligations to SCP. The foreclosed property was sold for a small loss and one of the other properties was sold at breakeven. Two properties were sold for less than their respective carrying values but the borrowers’ obligations are guaranteed by a third

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party. The other five properties are being held for sale. We cannot assure you that we will be able to avoid foreclosures in the future and that such foreclosures will not have a significant adverse impact on our financial performance and cash flows.

Difficult conditions in the markets for mortgages and mortgage-related assets as well as the broader financial markets have resulted in a significant contraction in liquidity for mortgages and mortgage-related assets, which may adversely affect the value of the assets that we intend to originate.

Our results of operations will be materially affected by conditions in the markets for mortgages and mortgage-related assets as well as the broader financial markets and the economy generally. In recent years, significant adverse changes in financial market conditions have resulted in a decline in real estate values, jeopardizing the performance and viability of many real estate loans. As a result, many traditional mortgage lenders suffered severe losses and several have even failed. This situation has negatively affected both the terms and availability of financing for small non-bank real estate finance companies. This could have an adverse impact on our financial condition, business operations and the price of our common shares.

Short-term loans may involve a greater risk of loss than traditional mortgage loans.

Borrowers usually use the proceeds of a long-term mortgage loan or sale to repay a short-term loan. We may therefore depend on a borrower’s ability to obtain permanent financing or sell the property to repay our loan, which could depend on market conditions and other factors. Short-term loans are also subject to risks of borrower defaults, bankruptcies, fraud, losses and special hazard losses that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. In the event of a default, we bear the risk of loss of principal and non-payment of interest and fees to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the mortgage collateral and the principal amount and unpaid interest of the interim loan. To the extent we suffer such losses with respect to our interim loans, our enterprise value and the price of our common shares may be adversely affected.

We may be subject to “lender liability” claims. Our financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted if we were to be found liable and required to pay damages.

In recent years, a number of judicial decisions have upheld the right of borrowers to sue lenders on the basis of various evolving legal theories, collectively termed “lender liability.” Generally, lender liability is founded on the premise that a lender has either violated a duty, whether implied or contractual, of good faith and fair dealing owed to the borrower or has assumed a degree of control over the borrower resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other creditors or shareholders. We cannot assure you that such claims will not arise or that we will not be subject to significant liability if a claim of this type did arise.

An increase in the rate of prepayment of outstanding loans may have an adverse impact on the value of our portfolio as well as our revenue and income.

The value of our loan portfolio may be affected by prepayment rates and a significant increase in the rate of prepayments could have an adverse impact on our operating results. Recently, SCP has experienced an increase in the rate of prepayments, an indication that banks may be more willing to lend as general economic conditions seem to be improving. Prepayment rates cannot be predicted with certainty and no strategy can completely insulate us from prepayment or other such risks. We do not charge a penalty or premium if a loan is paid off before its maturity date. In periods of declining interest rates, prepayment rates on mortgage and other real estate-related loans generally increase. Repayment proceeds are either invested in new loans or used to pay down bank debt. If we cannot reinvest the proceeds of repayments quickly in new loans with interest rates comparable to the rates on the loans being repaid, our revenue and profits will decline. Although, we also receive origination fees for new loans, we cannot assure that these fees will offset any reduction in the interest rate on the new loan.

The lack of liquidity in our portfolio may adversely affect our business.

The illiquidity of our loan portfolio may make it difficult for us to sell such assets if the need or desire arises. As a result, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the outstanding loan balance.

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The geographic concentration of our loan portfolio may make our revenues and the values of the mortgages and real estate securing our portfolio vulnerable to adverse changes in local or regional economic conditions.

Under our current business model, we have one asset class — mortgage loans that we originate, underwrite, fund, service and manage — and we have no current plans to diversify. Moreover, most of SCP’s loans — approximately 95.4% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance at June 30, 2016 — were secured by properties located in Connecticut. This lack of geographical diversification makes our mortgage portfolio more sensitive to local and regional economic conditions. A significant decline in the local or regional economy where the properties are located could result in a greater risk of default compared with the default rate for loans secured by properties in other geographic locations. This could result in a reduction of our revenues and provision for loan loss allowances, which might not be as acute if our loan portfolio were more geographically diverse. Therefore, our loan portfolio is subject to greater risk than other real estate finance companies that have a more diversified asset base and broader geographic footprint. To the extent that our portfolio is concentrated in one region and/or one type of asset, downturns relating generally to such region or type of asset may result in defaults on a number of our assets within a short time period, which may reduce our net income and the market price of our common shares.

A prolonged economic slowdown, a lengthy or severe recession or declining real estate values could impair our investments and harm our operations.

A prolonged economic slowdown, a recession or declining real estate values could impair the performance of our assets and harm our financial condition and results of operations, increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. Thus, we believe the risks associated with our business will be more severe during periods of economic slowdown or recession because these periods are likely to be accompanied by declining real estate values. Declining real estate values are likely to have one or more of the following adverse consequences:

reduce the level of new mortgage and other real estate-related loan originations since borrowers often use appreciation in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase or investment in additional properties;
make it more difficult for existing borrowers to remain current on their payment obligations; and
significantly increase the likelihood that we will incur losses on our loans in the event of default because the value of our collateral may be below the amount of our loan.

Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could adversely affect both our net interest income from loans in our portfolio as well as our ability to originate new loans, which would materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and the market price of our common shares.

Our due diligence may not reveal all of a borrower’s liabilities and other risks.

Before making a loan to a borrower, we assess the strength and skills of such entity’s management and other factors that we believe are material to the performance of the loan. In making the assessment and otherwise conducting customary due diligence, we rely on the resources available to us and, in some cases, services provided by third parties. This process is particularly important and subjective with respect to newly organized entities because there may be little or no information publicly available about the entities. There can be no assurance that our due diligence processes will uncover all relevant facts or that the borrower’s circumstances will not change after the loan is funded. In either case, this could adversely impact the performance of the loan and our operating results.

Our loans are typically made to entities to enable them to acquire, develop or renovate residential or commercial property, which may involve a greater risk of loss than loans to individual owners of residential real estate.

We make loans to corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and individuals in connection with their acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, development and/or improvement of residential or commercial real estate held for resale or investment. In many instances, the property is under-utilized, poorly

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managed, or located in a recovering neighborhood. Thus, these loans may have a higher degree of risk than loans to individual property owners with respect to their primary residence or to owners of commercial operating properties because of a variety of factors. For instance, our borrowers usually do not have the need to occupy the property, or an emotional attachment to the property as borrowers of owner-occupied residential properties may have, and therefore they don’t always have the same incentive to avoid foreclosure. Similarly, the properties we loan against may have little or no cash flow. If the neighborhood in which the asset is located fails to recover according to the borrower’s projections, or if the borrower fails to improve the quality of the property’s performance and/or the value of the property, the borrower may not receive a sufficient return on the property to satisfy the loan, and we bear the risk that we may not recover some or all of our principal. Finally, there are difficulties associated with collecting debts from entities that may be judgment proof. While we try to mitigate these risks in various ways, including by getting personal guarantees from the principals of the borrower, we cannot assure you that these lending and credit enhancement strategies will be successful.

Our inability to promptly foreclose on defaulted loans could increase our costs and/or losses.

While we have certain rights with respect to the real estate collateral underlying our loans, and rights against the borrower and guarantor(s), in the event of a default there are a variety of factors that may inhibit our ability to enforce our rights to collect the loan, whether through a non-payment action against the borrower, a foreclosure proceeding against the underlying property or a collection or enforcement proceeding against the guarantor. These factors include, without limitation, state foreclosure timelines and deferrals associated therewith (including with respect to litigation); unauthorized occupants living in the property; federal, state or local legislative action or initiatives designed to provide residential property owners with assistance in avoiding foreclosures and that serve to delay the foreclosure process; government programs that require specific procedures to be followed to explore the refinancing of a residential mortgage loan prior to the commencement of a foreclosure proceeding; and continued declines in real estate values and sustained high levels of unemployment that increase the number of foreclosures and place additional pressure on the already overburdened judicial and administrative systems. In short, foreclosure of a mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process that could have a substantial negative effect on our anticipated return on the foreclosed mortgage loan. In addition, in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower or guarantor, we may not have full recourse to the assets of the borrower, or the assets of the borrower or the guarantor may not be sufficient to satisfy the debt.

None of our loans are funded with interest reserves and our borrowers may be unable to pay the interest accruing on the loans when due, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.

Our loans are not funded with an interest reserve. Thus, we rely on the borrowers to make interest payments as and when due from other sources of cash. Given the fact that many of the properties securing our loans are not income producing or even cash producing and most of the borrowers are entities with no assets other than the single property that is the subject of the loan, some of our borrowers have considerable difficulty servicing our loans and the risk of a non-payment of default is considerable. We depend on the borrower’s ability to refinance the loan at maturity or sell the property for repayment. If the borrower is unable to repay the loan, together with all the accrued interest, at maturity, our operating results and cash flows would be materially and adversely affected.

Interest rate fluctuations could reduce our ability to generate income and may cause losses.

Our primary interest rate exposure relates to the yield on our loan portfolio and the financing cost of our debt. Our operating results depend, in part, on differences between the interest income generated by our loan portfolio net of credit losses and our financing costs. This exposure is exacerbated by the fact that the interest rates on our loans are fixed throughout the term of the loan, which is generally three years, while the interest rate on our debt is variable and changes every time there is a change in the prime rate. Changes in interest rates will affect our revenue and net income in one or more of the following ways:

our operating expenses may increase;
our ability to originate loans may be adversely impacted;

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to the extent we use our credit line or other forms of debt financing to originate loans, our borrowing costs would rise, reducing the “spread” between our cost of funds and the yield on our outstanding mortgage loans, which tend to be fixed rate obligations;
a rise in interest rates may discourage potential borrowers from refinancing existing loans or defer plans to renovate or improve their properties;
increase borrower default rates;
negatively impact property values making our existing loans riskier and new loans that we originate smaller;
rising interest rates could also result in reduced turnover of properties which may reduce the demand for new mortgage loans.

In December 2015, the United States Federal Reserve Board raised interest rates for the first time since the onset of the recession in 2008. The increase was 25 basis points or 0.25%. It also announced that it would continue to gradually increase interest rates until such time as it believes interest rates reach a level that it believes fosters maximum employment and price stability. As interest rates rise, we believe our investors will expect a concomitant increase in yield on their investment. If rates increase gradually, we believe we will be able to pass along these increases to our borrowers and thus satisfy the expectations of our investors. However, if rates increase rapidly or the periodic increases are significant, we may not be able to increase our lending rate quickly enough to satisfy the expectations of the investment community. This could lead to a decrease in the market price of our common shares.

Liability relating to environmental matters may adversely impact the value of properties securing our loans.

Under various U.S. federal, state and local laws, an owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal of certain hazardous substances released on its property. These laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances. The presence of hazardous substances may adversely affect an owner’s ability to sell real estate or borrow using real estate as collateral. To the extent that an owner of a property underlying one of our debt instruments becomes liable for removal costs, the ability of the owner to make payments to us may be reduced, which in turn may adversely affect the value of the relevant mortgage asset held by us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. If we acquire any properties by foreclosure or otherwise, the presence of hazardous substances on a property may adversely affect our ability to sell the property and we may incur substantial remediation costs, thus harming our financial condition. The discovery of material environmental liabilities attached to such properties could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and the market price of our common shares.

Defaults on our loans may cause declines in revenues and net income. The impact of defaults may be exacerbated by the fact that we do not carry loan loss reserves.

Defaults by borrowers could result in one or more of the following adverse consequences:

a decrease in interest income, profitability and cash flow;
the establishment of or an increase in loan loss reserves;
write-offs and losses;
default under our credit facility; and
an increase in legal and enforcement costs, as we seek to protect our rights and recover the amounts owed.

As a result, we will have less cash available for paying our other operating expenses and for making distributions to our shareholders. This would have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common shares.

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Based on experience and periodic evaluation of its loan portfolio, at each of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, SCP did not have a loan loss reserve. A loss with respect to all or a portion of a loan in our portfolio in excess of our reserve will have an immediate and adverse impact on our net income. The valuation process of our loan portfolio requires us to make certain estimates and judgments, which are particularly difficult to determine during a period in which the availability of real estate credit is limited and real estate transactions have decreased. These estimates and judgments are based on a number of factors, including projected cash flows from the collateral securing our mortgage loans, if any, loan structure, including the availability of reserves and recourse guarantees, likelihood of repayment in full at the maturity of a loan, the relative strength or weakness of the refinancing market and expected market discount rates for varying property types. If our estimates and judgments are not correct, our results of operations and financial condition could be severely impacted.

Our revenues and the value of our portfolio may be negatively affected by casualty events occurring on properties securing our loans.

We require our borrowers to obtain, for our benefit, all risk property insurance covering the property and any improvements to the property collateralizing our loan in an amount intended to be sufficient to provide for the cost of replacement in the event of casualty. However, the amount of insurance coverage maintained for any property may not be sufficient to pay the full replacement cost following a casualty event. Furthermore, there are certain types of losses, such as those arising from earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and terrorist attacks, that may be uninsurable or that may not be economically feasible to insure. Changes in zoning, building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors may make it impossible for our borrowers to use insurance proceeds to replace damaged or destroyed improvements at a property. If any of these or similar events occur, the amount of coverage may not be sufficient to replace a damaged or destroyed property and/or to repay in full the amount due on loans collateralized by such property. As a result, our returns and the value of our investment may be reduced.

Borrower concentration could lead to significant losses, which could have a material adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.

As of June 30, 2016, one borrower accounted for 5% of SCP’s loan portfolio. At December 31, 2015, two borrowers each accounted for more than 5% of SCP’s loan portfolio, one of whom was JJV. No other borrower or group of affiliated borrowers accounted for more than 5% of SCP’s loan portfolio at either of those dates. Concentration of loans to a limited number of borrowers or a group of affiliated borrowers poses a significant risk, as a default by a borrower on one loan or by one borrower in a group of affiliates is likely to result in a default by the borrower on other loans or by other borrowers in the group. We will attempt to mitigate this risk by adopting a policy that the total amount of loans outstanding to any single borrower or group of affiliated borrowers may not exceed more than 10% of our loan portfolio after taking into account the loan under consideration. In addition, we will also adopt a policy precluding loans to related parties unless such loans are on terms no less favorable to us than similar loans to unrelated third parties taking into account all of our underwriting criteria and that such loan has been approved by a majority of our independent directors.

Risks Related to Financing Transactions

Our existing credit line has numerous covenants with which we must comply. If we are unable to comply with these covenants, the outstanding amount of the loan could become due and payable and we may have to sell off a portion of our loan portfolio to pay off the debt.

The Bankwell Credit Line contains various covenants and restrictions that are typical for these kinds of credit facilities, including limiting the amount that we can borrow relative to the value of the underlying collateral, maintaining various financial ratios and limitations on the terms of loans we make to our customers. Under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Line, the amount outstanding at any one time may not exceed the lesser of (i) $15 million and (ii) our Eligible Note Receivables (as defined in the Line of Credit Agreement). In addition, each “Advance” is further limited to the lesser of (i) 50% – 75%, depending on the loan-to-value ratio, of the principal amount of the particular Eligible Note Receivable being funded and (ii) $250,000. As of June 30, 2016, we estimate that loans having an aggregate principal amount of approximately $     million,

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representing approximately   % of SCP’s mortgage receivables as of that date, satisfied all of the eligibility criteria under the Bankwell Agreement. As of June 30, 2016, the total amount outstanding under the Bankwell Credit Line was $7.275 million leaving us with sufficient borrowing capacity to draw down the full amount of the credit line if we so choose. However, given the nature of our business, we cannot assure you that we will always be able to borrow the maximum allowed under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Line.

These limitations include the following:

prohibiting any liens on any of the collateral securing the Bankwell Credit Line, which is essentially all of our assets;
prohibiting us from merging, consolidating or disposing of any asset;
prohibiting us from incurring any other indebtedness to a third party;
prohibiting us from forming or transacting business with any subsidiary or affiliate other than to make loans to our borrowers;
prohibiting us from allowing any litigation in excess of $50,000 against any of our assets unless we are fully insured against such loss;
prohibiting us from issuing or redeeming any equity interest, distributing any equity interest, pay any indebtedness owed to an equity holder, suffer any change in ownership that would result in JJV, Jeffrey Villano and John Villano owning collectively less than 50% of the membership interests in SCP;
prohibiting us from declaring or paying any dividends except in certain limited circumstances;
prohibiting us from purchasing any securities issued by or otherwise invest in any public or private entity;
suffer any change in our executive management; and
change the form or nature of SCP’s or JJV’s ownership structure

Loan covenants include the following:

punctually pay amounts due;
pay on demand any charges customarily incurred or levied by Bankwell;
pay any and all taxes, assessments or other charges assessed against us or any of our assets;
pay all insurance premiums;
maintain our principal deposit and disbursement accounts with Bankwell;
perfect Bankwell’s lien on the assets;
comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of any governmental authority; or
change the nature of our business.

Finally, we must comply with the following financial covenants:

continuously maintain a fixed charge ratio of at least 1.35:1.00 at the end of each fiscal year;
continuously maintain a tangible net worth of not less than $15 million at the end of each fiscal quarter;
John Villano’s minimal capital investment in SCP may not be less than $195,000;
Jeffrey Villano’s minimal capital investment in SCP, directly and indirectly through affiliates, may not be less than $1,750,000; and
JJV’s minimal capital investment in SCP may not be less than $575,000.

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If we fail to meet or satisfy any of these covenants, we would be in default under our agreement with Bankwell, and Bankwell could elect to declare outstanding amounts due and payable, terminate its commitments to us, require us to post additional collateral and/or enforce their interests against existing collateral. Acceleration of our debt to Bankwell could also make it difficult for us to satisfy the qualification requirements necessary to maintain our status as a REIT, significantly reduce our liquidity or require us to sell our assets to repay amounts due and outstanding. This would significantly harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions and could result in the foreclosure of our assets which secure our obligations, which could cause the value of our capital shares to decline. A default could also significantly limit our financing alternatives such that we would be unable to pursue our leverage strategy, which could adversely affect our returns.

If we default and Bankwell accelerates the loan we would have to repay the debt immediately from our working capital ( i.e., proceeds from loan repayments), proceeds from the sale of all or a portion of our loan portfolio or debt or equity securities, or refinance with another lender. We cannot assure you that we would be able to replace the Bankwell Credit Line on similar terms or on any terms. If we have to sell a portion of our loan portfolio, the amount we realize may be less than the face amount of the loans sold, resulting in a loss. If we sell a portion of our portfolio or use proceeds from loan repayments to pay the Bankwell debt, our opportunities to grow our business will be negatively impacted.

Our access to financing may be limited and, thus, our ability to maximize our returns may be adversely affected.

Our ability to grow and compete may also depend on our ability to borrow money to leverage our loan portfolio and to build and manage the cost of expanding our infrastructure to manage and service a larger loan portfolio. The Bankwell Credit Agreement prohibits us from incurring any additional indebtedness without Bankwell’s consent. Even if Bankwell does consent, we cannot assure you that a subsequent financing source would agree to any conditions that Bankwell may impose and insist upon.

In general, the amount, type and cost of any financing that we obtain from another financial institution will have a direct impact on our revenue and expenses and, therefore, can positively or negatively affect our financial results. The percentage of leverage we employ will vary depending on our assessment of a variety of factors, which may include the anticipated liquidity and price volatility of our existing portfolio, the potential for losses and extension risk in our portfolio, the gap between the size and duration of our assets and liabilities, the availability and cost of financing, our opinion as to the creditworthiness of our financing counterparties, the health of the U.S. economy and commercial mortgage markets, our outlook for the level, slope, and volatility of interest rates, the credit quality of our borrowers and the collateral underlying our assets.

Our access to financing will depend upon a number of factors, over which we have little or no control, including:

general market conditions;
the market’s view of the quality of our assets;
the market’s perception of our growth potential;
our eligibility to participate in and access capital from programs established by the governmental agencies;
our current and potential future earnings and cash distributions; and
the market price of our common shares.

Continuing weakness in the capital and credit markets could adversely affect our ability to secure financing on favorable terms or at all. In addition, if regulatory capital requirements imposed on lenders change, they may be required to limit, or increase the cost of, financing they provide to us. In general, this could potentially increase our financing costs and reduce our liquidity or require us to sell loans at an inopportune time or price.

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We cannot assure you that we will always have access to structured financing arrangements when needed. If structured financing arrangements are not available to us we may have to rely on equity issuances, which may be dilutive to our shareholders, or on less efficient forms of debt financing that require a larger portion of our cash flow from operations, thereby reducing funds available for our operations, future business opportunities, cash distributions to our shareholders and other purposes. We cannot assure you that we will have access to such equity or debt capital on favorable terms (including, without limitation, cost and term) at the desired times, or at all, which may cause us to curtail our lending activities and/or dispose of loans in our portfolio, which could negatively affect our results of operations.

We have no formal corporate policy and none of our governance documents limit our ability to borrow money. Our use of leverage may adversely affect the return on our assets and may reduce cash available for distribution to our shareholders, as well as increase losses when economic conditions are unfavorable.

Although our agreement with Bankwell restricts our ability to incur additional indebtedness, we do not have a formal corporate policy limiting the amount of debt we may incur and none of our governing documents contain any limitation on the amount of leverage we may use. Thus, we may significantly increase the amount of our indebtness and the leverage we utilize at any time without approval of our shareholders. In addition, we may leverage individual assets at substantially higher levels. Incurring substantial debt could subject us to many risks that, if realized, would materially and adversely affect us, including the risk that:

our cash flow from operations may be insufficient to make required payments of principal and interest on our outstanding indebtedness or we may fail to comply with all of the other covenants contained in the debt, which is likely to result in (i) acceleration of such debt (and any other debt containing a cross-default or cross-acceleration provision) that we may be unable to repay from internal funds or to refinance on favorable terms, or at all, (ii) our inability to borrow unused amounts under our financing arrangements, even if we are current in payments on borrowings under those arrangements and/or (iii) the loss of some or all of our assets pledged or liened to secure our indebtedness to foreclosure or sale;
our debt may increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions with no assurance that yields will increase with higher financing costs;
we may be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing funds available for operations, future business opportunities, shareholder distributions or other purposes; and
we may not able to refinance debt that matures prior to the asset it was used to finance on favorable terms, or at all.

Risks Related to REIT Status and Investment Company Act Exemption

We have no experience operating as a REIT or managing a portfolio of assets in the manner necessary to maintain an exemption under the Investment Company Act, which may hinder our ability to achieve our business objectives or result in the loss of our qualification as a REIT.

We have no experience converting to a REIT and none of our executive officers have any experience managing a loan portfolio under a set of complex laws, rules and regulations or operating a business in compliance with a set of technical limitations and restrictions as those applicable to REITS. Similarly, we have no experience operating under or avoiding being subject to the Investment Company Act. As a result, we are subject to all of the customary business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that we will not achieve our objectives and, as a result, the value of our common shares could decline substantially. The rules and regulations applicable to REITs under the Code are highly technical and complex and the failure to comply with these rules and regulations in a timely manner could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT or could force us to pay unexpected taxes and penalties. In addition, we will be required to develop and implement or invest in substantial control systems and procedures in order for us to maintain our qualification as a public REIT. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully operate as a REIT or comply with rules and regulations applicable to REITs, which would substantially reduce our earnings and may reduce the market value of our common shares. In addition, in

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order to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act, the assets in our portfolio will be subject to certain restrictions, which will limit our operations meaningfully.

Complying with REIT requirements may hinder our ability to maximize profits, which would reduce the amount of cash available to be distributed to our shareholders. This could have an adverse impact on the price of our shares.

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning among other things, the composition of our assets, our sources of income, the amounts we distribute to our shareholders and the ownership of our capital shares. Specifically, we must ensure that at the end of each calendar quarter at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified REIT real estate assets. The remainder of our investment in securities cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of such issuer. In addition, no more than 5% of the value of our assets can consist of the securities of any one issuer, other than a qualified REIT security. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we must dispose of the portion of our assets in excess of such amounts within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in order to avoid losing our REIT status and suffering adverse tax consequences. In such event, we may be forced to sell non-qualifying assets at less than their fair market value. As a result of these requirements, our operating costs may increase to ensure compliance. For example, as a REIT, we may depend to a much greater extent than we currently do on communications and information systems. We may have to upgrade our existing systems in order to monitor a larger portfolio of loans, to track our revenue to make sure we do not inadvertently fail the revenue requirements for a REIT and to make sure that we distribute the requisite amount of our income to shareholders. In addition, we expect our operating expenses to increase as a result of our conversion to a REIT, becoming a publicly-held reporting company and anticipated growth and we cannot assure you that we will be able to sustain our profitability at our historical levels. In addition, we may also be required to make distributions to shareholders at times when we do not have funds readily available for distribution or are otherwise not optional for us. Accordingly, compliance with REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits.

Our failure to qualify or to remain qualified as a REIT would subject us to U.S. federal income tax and applicable state and local taxes, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We intend to operate in a manner that will enable us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year in which this offering is consummated. While we believe that we will qualify as a REIT after this offering is consummated, we have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), that we do or will qualify as a REIT. The U.S. federal income tax laws and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder governing REITs are complex. In addition, judicial and administrative interpretations of the U.S. federal income tax laws governing REIT qualification are limited. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet, on an ongoing basis, various tests regarding the nature of our assets and our income, the ownership of our outstanding shares, and the amount of our distributions. Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends on our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. Our compliance with the REIT income and quarterly asset requirements also depends on our ability to successfully manage the composition of our income and assets on an ongoing basis. Moreover, new legislation, court decisions or administrative guidance, in each case possibly with retroactive effect, may make it more difficult or impossible for us to qualify as a REIT. Thus, while we intend to operate so that we will continue to qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we will so qualify for any particular year. These considerations also might restrict the types of assets that we can acquire in the future.

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and we do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we would be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income, and distributions to our shareholders would not be deductible by us in determining our taxable income. In such a case, we might need to borrow money or sell assets in order to pay our taxes. Our payment of income tax would decrease the amount of our income available for distribution to our shareholders. Furthermore, if we fail to maintain our

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qualification as a REIT, we no longer would be required to distribute substantially all of our taxable income to our shareholders. In addition, unless we were eligible for certain statutory relief provisions, we could not re-elect to qualify as a REIT until the fifth calendar year following the year in which we failed to qualify.

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and may require us to incur debt or sell assets to make such distributions.

In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute to our shareholders, each calendar year, at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (including certain items of non-cash income), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain. To the extent that we satisfy the 90% distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our taxable income, we are subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed income. In addition, we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which our distributions in any calendar year are less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal income tax laws. We intend to distribute our net income to our shareholders in a manner that will satisfy the REIT 90% distribution requirement and to avoid the 4% nondeductible excise tax.

Our taxable income may substantially exceed our net income as determined by U.S. GAAP and differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash may occur. For example, we may be required to accrue interest and discount income on mortgage loans before we receive any payments of interest or principal on such assets. We may be required under the terms of the indebtedness that we incur, to use cash received from interest payments to make principal payment on that indebtedness, with the effect that we will recognize income but will not have a corresponding amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

As a result of the foregoing, we may generate less cash flow than taxable income in a particular year and find it difficult or impossible to meet the REIT distribution requirements in certain circumstances. In such circumstances, we may be required to: (i) sell assets in adverse market conditions, (ii) borrow on unfavorable terms, (iii) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt, (iv) make a taxable distribution of our shares as part of a distribution in which shareholders may elect to receive shares or (subject to a limit measured as a percentage of the total distribution) cash or (v) use cash reserves, in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax. Thus, compliance with the REIT distribution requirements may hinder our ability to grow, which could adversely affect the value of our common shares.

Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may face tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.

As a REIT, we may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from some activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure, and state or local income, franchise, property and transfer taxes, including mortgage recording taxes. In addition, in order to meet the REIT qualification requirements, or to avoid the imposition of a 100% tax that applies to certain gains derived by a REIT from sales of inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, we may create “taxable REIT subsidiaries” to hold some of our assets. Any taxes paid by such subsidiary corporations would decrease the cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

Our qualification as a REIT may depend on the accuracy of legal opinions or advice rendered or given and the inaccuracy of any such opinions, advice or statements may adversely affect our REIT qualification and result in significant corporate-level tax.

In determining whether we qualify as a REIT, we may rely on opinions or advice of counsel as to whether certain types of assets that we hold or acquire are deemed REIT real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests and produce income which qualifies under the 75% REIT gross income test. The inaccuracy of any such opinions, advice or statements may adversely affect our REIT qualification and result in significant corporate-level tax.

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We may choose to make distributions in our common shares, in which case you may be required to pay income taxes in excess of the cash dividends you receive.

We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in cash and/or common shares at the election of each shareholder. Shareholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income. As a result, shareholders may be required to pay income taxes with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash portion of the dividend. Accordingly, shareholders receiving a distribution of shares may be required to sell those shares or may be required to sell other assets they own at a time that may be disadvantageous in order to satisfy any tax imposed on the distribution they receive from us. If a shareholder sells the common shares that he or she receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of a share of our common shares at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to certain non-U.S. shareholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in shares, by withholding or disposing of some of the common shares in the distribution and using the proceeds of such disposition to satisfy the withholding tax imposed. In addition, if a significant number of our shareholders determine to sell their common shares in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, such sale may adversely impact the market price of our common shares.

Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividend income from regular corporations, which could adversely affect the value of our common shares.

Dividends payable by REITs are not eligible for the reduced rates generally applicable to dividends but are taxed at the same rate as ordinary income. Although the reduced U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to dividend income from regular corporate dividends does not adversely affect the taxation of REITs or dividends paid by REITs, the more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate dividends could cause investors who are individuals, trusts and estates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends. This could have an adverse impact on the market price of our common shares.

Liquidation of our assets may jeopardize our REIT qualification.

To qualify as a REIT, we must comply with requirements regarding our assets and our sources of income. If we are compelled to liquidate our assets to repay obligations to our lenders, we may be unable to comply with these requirements, thereby jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT. In addition, we may be subject to a 100% tax on any gain realized from the sale of assets that are treated as inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

The ownership restrictions set forth in our certificate of incorporation, as amended, may not prevent five or fewer shareholders from owning 50% or more of our outstanding shares of capital shares causing us to lose our status as a REIT. This loss of status may inhibit market activity in our common shares and restrict our business combination opportunities.

In order for us to qualify as a REIT, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital shares may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year, and at least 100 persons must beneficially own shares of our capital stock during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate portion of a shorter taxable year. To help insure that we meet the tests, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, restricts the acquisition and ownership of our capital shares. The ownership limitation is fixed at     % of our outstanding capital shares, by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive. Our founders and co-chief executive officers, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, are exempt from this restriction. Immediately after this offering is consummated, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano will own     % and     %, respectively, of our outstanding common shares. In addition, our board of directors may grant such an exemption to such limitations in its sole discretion, subject to such conditions, representations and undertakings as it may determine. These ownership limits could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control of our company that might involve a premium price for our common shares or otherwise be in the best interest of our shareholders.

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The tax on prohibited transactions may limit our ability to engage in transactions that may be beneficial to us and/or our shareholders.

A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, but including mortgage loans, held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. We might be subject to this tax if we were to sell or securitize loans in a manner that was treated as a sale of the loans as inventory for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Although at the present time we have no plans to sell any of our loans, in the future we may need to sell all or a portion of our portfolio in order to raise funds, reduce our exposure to certain risks or for other reasons. In such event, in order to avoid the prohibited transactions tax, we may be required to structure the sales in ways that may be less beneficial than we would if we were not a REIT.

We may be subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could adversely impact the market price of our common shares.

At any time, the U.S. federal income tax laws or regulations governing REITs or the administrative interpretations of those laws or regulations may be changed, possibly with retroactive effect. We cannot predict if or when any new U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, or any amendment to any existing U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation, will be adopted, promulgated or become effective or whether any such law, regulation or interpretation may take effect retroactively. We and our shareholders could be adversely affected by any such change in, or any new, U.S. federal income tax law, regulation or administrative interpretation.

We may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows from our operations to make distributions to our shareholders at any time in the future.

As a REIT, we are required to distribute to our shareholders at least 90% of our taxable income each year. We intend to satisfy this requirement through quarterly distributions of all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income in such year, subject to certain adjustments. Our ability to make distributions may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including the risk factors described in this prospectus. If we make distributions from the proceeds of this offering, which would generally be considered to be a return of capital for tax purposes, our future earnings and cash available for distribution may be reduced from what they otherwise would have been. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on various factors, including our earnings, our financial condition, our liquidity, our debt covenants, maintenance of our REIT qualification, applicable provisions of the New York Business Corporation Law (the “BCL”), and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. We believe that a change in any one of the following factors could adversely affect our results of operations and impair our ability to pay distributions to our shareholders:

how we deploy the net proceeds of this offering;
our ability to make loans at favorable interest rates;
expenses that reduce our cash flow;
defaults in our asset portfolio or decreases in the value of our portfolio; and
the fact that anticipated operating expense levels may not prove accurate, as actual results may vary from estimates.

A change in any of these factors could affect our ability to make distributions. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to make distributions to our shareholders at any time in the future or that the level of any distributions we do make to our shareholders will achieve a market yield or increase or even be maintained over time, any of which could materially and adversely affect us.

In addition, distributions that we make to our shareholders will generally be taxable to our shareholders as ordinary income. However, a portion of our distributions may be designated by us as long-term capital gains to the extent that they are attributable to capital gain income recognized by us or may constitute a return of capital to the extent that they exceed our earnings and profits as determined for tax purposes. A return of capital is not taxable, but has the effect of reducing the basis of a shareholder’s investment in our common shares.

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We could be materially and adversely affected if we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

We intend to conduct our business in a manner that will qualify for the exception from the Investment Company Act set forth in Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act. The SEC generally requires that, for the exception provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) to be available, at least 55% of an entity’s assets be comprised of mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate, also known as “qualifying interests,” and at least another 25% of the entity’s assets must be comprised of additional qualifying interests or real estate-type interests (with no more than 20% of the entity’s assets comprised of miscellaneous assets). Any significant acquisition by us of non-real estate assets without the acquisition of substantial real estate assets could cause us to meet the definitions of an “investment company.” If we are deemed to be an investment company, we could be required to dispose of non-real estate assets or a portion thereof, potentially at a loss, in order to qualify for the 3(c)(5)(C) exception. We may also be required to register as an investment company if we are unable to dispose of the disqualifying assets, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

Registration under the Investment Company Act would require us to comply with a variety of substantive requirements that impose, among other things:

limitations on capital structure;
restrictions on specified investments;
restrictions on leverage or senior securities;
restrictions on unsecured borrowings;
prohibitions on transactions with affiliates;
compliance with reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy disclosure and other rules and regulations that would significantly increase our operating expenses.

If we were required to register as an investment company but failed to do so, we could be prohibited from engaging in our business, and criminal and civil actions could be brought against us.

Registration with the SEC as an investment company would be costly, would subject us to a host of complex regulations and would divert attention from the conduct of our business, which could materially and adversely affect us. In addition, if we purchase or sell any real estate assets to avoid becoming an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our net asset value, the amount of funds available for investment and our ability to pay distributions to our shareholders could be materially adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Common Shares and This Offering

After this offering, management will continue to significantly influence and have effective control over all matters submitted to shareholders for approval and may act in a manner that conflicts with the interests of other shareholders.

Immediately after this offering is consummated, John L. Villano and Jeffrey C. Villano, our founders and co-chief executive officers, will beneficially own     % and     % of our common shares. Thus, Messrs. Villano will have effective control over all corporate actions, including the election of directors and all other matters requiring shareholder approval, whether pursuant to the BCL or our certificate of incorporation, as amended. This concentration of ownership, particularly in light of the ownership limitations imposed on other shareholders, could have an adverse impact on the market price of our common shares.

Our financial statements may be materially affected if our estimates prove to be inaccurate.

Financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) require the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts. Different estimates, judgments and assumptions reasonably could be used that would have a material effect on the financial statements, and changes in these estimates, judgments and assumptions are likely to occur from period to period in the future. Significant areas of accounting requiring the application of management’s judgment include, but are not limited to, assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. These estimates,

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judgments and assumptions are inherently uncertain, and, if they prove to be wrong, then we face the risk that charges to income will be required. For example, currently, we do not carry any loan loss reserves. However, a decline in economic condition could negatively impact the credit quality of our loan portfolio and require us to establish loan loss reserves, which could have an adverse impact on our net income. In addition, because we have limited operating history as a REIT and limited experience in making these estimates, judgments and assumptions, the risk of future charges to income may be greater than if we had more experience in these areas. Any such charges could significantly harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and the price of our securities.

We will incur increased costs associated with, and our management will need to devote substantial time and effort to, compliance with public company reporting and other requirements.

We expect our operating expenses to increase significantly once this offering is completed. As a publicly-held reporting company and a REIT, we expect to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses, such as exchange listing fees, filing, printing and mailing expenses, transfer agent fees, and others, that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we will be required to, among other things, file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and operating results. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Capital Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Furthermore, as a corporation we will incur various costs and expenses that SCP did not incur as a limited liability company, such as director fees, directors’ and officers’ insurance and state and local franchise taxes. In addition, in lieu of paying a management fees to our manager, JJV, we will incur significant compensation and other employee-related costs for services rendered by our senior executive officers. Finally, certain operating expenses that were paid by JJV, such as rent, will be paid by us directly.

After this offering is consummated, our management and other personnel will have to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations are likely to cause our operating costs and expenses to increase and will make certain activities more time-consuming and costly. We may need to hire additional accounting and finance personnel with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge, and it may be difficult to recruit and maintain such personnel. We cannot yet predict or estimate the costs we may incur in the future with respect to these compliance initiatives or the timing of such costs. In addition, these rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.

There has never been, and there may never be, an active and orderly trading market for our common shares.

On or about the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, our common shares will begin to trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market. This will be the first time investors can buy and sell our common shares on either a stock exchange or through an over-the-counter electronic quotation system. Nevertheless, an active trading market for our common shares may never develop or be sustained. As a result, investors in our common shares must be able to bear the economic risk of holding those shares for an indefinite period of time. In addition, we cannot assure that we will, in the future, continue to meet the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market or those of any other national securities exchange, in which case our common shares may be “delisted.” In that event, our common shares will be quoted on an-over-the-counter quotation system. In those venues, you may find it difficult to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of your common shares and it may be difficult to find buyers to purchase your common shares and relatively few market makers to support its price. As a result of these and other factors, you may be unable to resell your common shares at or above the price for which you purchased them, or at all. Further, an inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling additional equity in the future, and may impair our ability to enter into strategic partnerships or acquire companies or products by using our common shares as consideration.

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The price for our common shares may be influenced by numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, resulting in extreme volatility.

The trading price of our common shares is likely to be highly volatile, and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. In addition to the factors discussed in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this prospectus, these factors include:

our operating results and financial condition;
additions or departures of key personnel;
changes in laws or regulations applicable to our business;
our dependence on third parties;
failure to meet or exceed any financial guidance or expectations that we may provide to the public;
actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results;
failure to meet or exceed the estimates and projections of the investment community;
overall performance of the equity markets and other factors that may be unrelated to our operating performance or the operating performance of our competitors, including changes in market valuations of similar companies;
announcements of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by us or our competitors;
our ability to maintain an adequate rate of growth and manage such growth;
issuances of debt or equity securities;
sales of our common shares by our shareholders in the future, or the perception that such sales could occur;
trading volume of our common shares;
ineffectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures;
national, regional and/or local political and economic conditions;
effects of natural or man-made catastrophic events; and
other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control.

In addition, the stock market in general, and the stocks of real estate related companies, including REITs in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our common shares, regardless of our actual operating performance. The realization of any of the above risks or any of a broad range of other risks, including those described in these “Risk Factors,” could have a dramatic and material adverse impact on the market price of our common shares.

FINRA sales practice requirements may limit your ability to buy and sell our common shares.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, has adopted rules requiring that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative or low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA has indicated its belief that there is a high probability that speculative or low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. Because these FINRA requirements are applicable to our common shares, they may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that at least some of their customers buy our common shares, which may limit the ability of our shareholders to buy and sell our common shares and could have an adverse effect on the market for and price of our common shares.

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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and any trading volume could decline.

Any trading market for our common shares that may develop will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on us or our business. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our common shares could be negatively affected. If securities or industry analysts initiate coverage, and one or more of those analysts downgrade our common shares or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our common shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our common shares could decrease, which might cause a decline in the price and trading volume of our common shares.

We have a substantial number of shares of authorized but unissued capital stock, and if we issue additional shares of our capital stock in the future, our existing shareholders will be diluted.

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, authorizes the issuance of up to 50,000,000 common shares and up to 5,000,000 preferred shares with the rights, preferences and privileges that our board of directors may determine from time to time. Immediately after the consummation of this offering, we will have no preferred shares outstanding and      common shares issued and outstanding, which represents     % of our total authorized common shares. In addition to capital raising activities, which we expect to continue to pursue in order to raise the funding we will need in order to continue our operations, other possible business and financial uses for our authorized capital stock include, without limitation, future stock splits, acquiring other companies, businesses or products in exchange for shares of our capital stock, issuing shares of our capital stock to partners or other collaborators in connection with strategic alliances, attracting and retaining employees by the issuance of additional securities under our equity compensation plans, or other transactions and corporate purposes that our board of directors deems are in our best interests. Additionally, shares of our capital stock could be used for anti-takeover purposes or to delay or prevent changes in control to our management. Any future issuances of shares of our capital stock may not be made on favorable terms or at all, they may not enhance shareholder value, they may have rights, preferences and privileges that are superior to those of our common shares, and they may have an adverse effect on our business or the trading price of our common shares. The issuance of any additional common shares will reduce the book value per share and may contribute to a reduction in the market price of the outstanding common shares. Additionally, any such issuance will reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of all of our current shareholders.

Investors in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in net tangible book value.

The public offering price will be substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common shares. As a result, based upon the assumptions set forth in “Dilution,” investors purchasing common shares in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $      per share, based on the public offering price of $     per common share. See “Dilution” for a more complete description of how the value of your investment in our common shares will be diluted upon the completion of this offering.

We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds from this offering, and we may use these proceeds in ways with which you may not agree.

While we currently intend to use the net proceeds received from this offering primarily to fund new loans, our management will have considerable discretion in the application of the proceeds received in connection with this offering. You will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. You must rely on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. The net proceeds may be used for corporate purposes that do not improve our profitability or increase the price of our common shares. The net proceeds from this offering may also be placed in investments that do not produce income or lose value.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and may remain an emerging growth company for up to five years. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are

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permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include:

being permitted to provide only two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure;
not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting;
not being required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements;
reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation; and
exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

We have taken advantage of reduced reporting burdens in this prospectus. In particular, in this prospectus, we have not included all of the executive compensation related information that would be required if we were not an emerging growth company. We cannot predict whether investors will find our common stock less attractive if we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

We have elected to avail ourselves of the extended transition period for adopting new or revised accounting standards available to emerging growth companies under the JOBS Act and will, therefore, not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, which could make our common stock less attractive to investors.

The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of exemption from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies and an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of these accounting standards until they would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to avail ourselves of these exemptions and the extended transition periods for adopting new or revised accounting standards and therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We intend to avail ourselves of these options. Once adopted, we must continue to report on that basis until we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company. We cannot predict whether investors will find our stock less attractive as a result of this election. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result of this election, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

As a publicly-held, reporting company, we expect to incur significantly increased costs and that management will have had to devote substantial time to reporting and other compliance matters. We expect these costs and expenses to further increase after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.”

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting with our second annual report to be filed with the SEC in 2016. However, while we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we will be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial

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reporting is effective as required by Section 404. If we identify one or more material weaknesses, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure

Certain provisions of New York law could inhibit changes in control.

Various provisions of the BCL may have the effect of deterring a third party from making a proposal to acquire us or of impeding a change in control under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common shares with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our common shares. For example, we are subject to the “business combination” provisions of the BCL that, subject to limitations, prohibit certain business combinations (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between us and an “interested shareholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns 20% or more of our then outstanding voting capital shares or an affiliate thereof for five years after the most recent date on which the shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between us and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our voting capital shares other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder. These provisions do not apply if holders of our common shares receive a minimum price, as defined under New York law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its common shares. They also do not apply to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a board of directors prior to the time that the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder.

Our authorized but unissued common and preferred shares may prevent a change in our control.

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, authorizes us to issue additional authorized but unissued common or preferred shares. After this offering is completed, we will have      authorized but unissued common shares (     if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and 5,000,000 authorized but unissued preferred shares, all of which are available for issuance at the discretion of our board of directors. As a result, our board of directors may establish a series of common or preferred shares that could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common shares or otherwise be in the best interest of our shareholders.

Our rights and the rights of our shareholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited, which could limit your recourse in the event of actions not in your best interests.

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, limits the liability of our present and former directors to us and our shareholders for money damages to any breach of duty in such capacity, if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to a present or former officer or director establishes that his or her acts or omissions were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled or that his or her acts violated Section 719 of the BCL. Section 719 of the BCL limits director liability to the following four instances:

declarations of dividends in violation of the BCL;
a purchase or redemption by a corporation of its own shares in violation of the BCL;
distributions of assets to shareholders following dissolution of the corporation without paying or providing for all known liabilities; and
making any loans to directors in violation of the BCL.

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws authorizes us to indemnify our directors and officers for actions taken by them in those capacities to the maximum extent permitted by the BCL. In

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addition, we may be obligated to pay or reimburse the defense costs incurred by our present and former directors and officers without requiring a preliminary determination of their ultimate entitlement to indemnification.

Our bylaws contain provisions that make removal of our directors difficult, which could make it difficult for our shareholders to effect changes to our management.

Our bylaws provide that a director may be removed by either the board of directors or by shareholders for cause. Vacancies may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if less than a quorum, unless the vacancy occurred as a result of shareholder action, in which case the vacancy must be filled by a vote of shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders duly called for that purpose. These requirements make it more difficult to change our management by removing and replacing directors and may prevent a change in control of our company that is in the best interests of our shareholders.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, strategy and plans, and our expectations for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “seek,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “likely,” “continue,” “design,” and the negative of such terms and other words and terms of similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in “Risk Factors.” In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. In addition, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. We disclaim any duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to confirm these statements in relationship to actual results or revised expectations.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements as well as others made in this prospectus. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made by us in the context of these risks and uncertainties.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of our common shares in this offering, assuming the shares are sold at the midpoint of the range, will be approximately $     (or approximately $     if the representative exercises its over-allotment option in full), after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The principal purpose of this offering is to raise additional funds so we can increase our loan portfolio. As a real estate finance company whose primary source of income is interest generated from our loan portfolio, the only way for us to increase our revenue is to increase the size of our loan portfolio.

The table below sets forth our expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions.

   
  Amount   Percentage
Funding loans                      
Capital expenditures                  
Working capital and general corporate purposes                  

Funding loans .  Approximately $     of the net proceeds of this offering will be used to fund new loans and grow our loan portfolio.

Capital expenditures .  In order to accommodate the growth in our business as a result of the successful completion of this offering as well as to comply with the various reporting and other requirements applicable to REITs and publicly held reporting requirements, we will need to implement and upgrade various systems including     . We estimate the cost of this implementation and upgrade to be $     over the next 12 months.

Working capital .  As a result of our conversion to REIT status and the consummation of this offering we expect that our general and administrative expenses, such as compensation and other employee-related expenses, insurance, rent, legal and accounting, will increase on account of our various reporting and compliance obligations and our expanded operations.

We may also use the net proceeds to pay down, on a temporary basis, the outstanding balance on the Bankwell Credit Line.

Pending the application of any portion of the net proceeds, we may invest such funds in interest bearing accounts and short-term, interest bearing securities that are consistent with our intention to qualify as a REIT and maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act. These investments are expected to provide lower returns than those we will seek to achieve from our loan portfolio.

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DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTION POLICY

The holders of our common shares are entitled to receive dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors. Payments of future dividends are within the discretion of our board of directors and depend on, among other factors, our retained earnings, capital requirements, operations and financial condition.

As a newly formed corporation, we have no dividend payment history. However, as a limited liability company, we distributed approximately 90% of our net profits each year to our members. In addition, as a REIT, we will be required, before the end of any REIT taxable year in which we have accumulated earnings and profits attributable to a non-REIT year, to declare a dividend to our shareholders to distribute such accumulated earnings and profits (a “Purging Distribution”). As of June 30, 2016, we did not have any accumulated earnings and profits attributable to a non-REIT year. Accordingly, we are not required to make a Purging Distribution.

From and after the effective date of our REIT election, we intend to pay regular quarterly distributions to holders of our common shares in an amount not less than 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gains). U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its taxable income. We intend to make distributions to our shareholders to comply with the REIT requirements of the Code.

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common shares in this offering, your interest will be immediately and substantially diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and the pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering. The pro forma data gives effect to the following as if they occurred on January 1, 2016: (i) the issuance of 8,533,237 common shares, prior to the consummation of this offering, including 6,283,237 common shares that will be issued to SCP in exchange for all of the assets and liabilities of SCP pursuant to the Exchange Agreement; (ii) the elimination of the management fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP; (iii) the direct payment of salaries and other forms of compensation to John Villano and Jeffrey Villano; (iv) the direct payment of origination fees to us rather than to JJV; and (v) normalizing various other operating expenses, such as rent. Pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value gives effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustments as well as to the sale of      common shares at the initial public offering price of $     per share and the receipt by us of approximately $     of net proceeds therefrom. Our pro forma net tangible book value at June 30, 2016 was $     million, or $     per pro forma share outstanding. After giving effect to the sale of      shares in this offering at an assumed initial offering price of $     per share, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value at June 30, 2016 would have been approximately $    , or $     per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $     per share to our existing shareholders, and an immediate dilution of $     per share to investors purchasing common shares in this offering.

Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of our common shares in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common shares immediately after this offering.

The following table illustrates the per share dilution to investors purchasing shares in the offering:

   
Public offering price per share            $       
Pro forma net tangible book value per share outstanding as at June 30, 2016   $                
Increase in historical and pro forma net tangible book value per share outstanding attributable to new investors                  
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share outstanding after this offering                  
Dilution per share to new investors                  

The information above assumes the representative does not exercise the over-allotment option. If the representative exercises the over-allotment option in full, our pro forma, as adjusted tangible net book value at June 30, 2016 would have been $    , reflecting an immediate dilution of $     per share to investors purchasing common shares in this offering.

The following table summarizes, as of June 30, 2016, differences between our existing shareholders and investors who purchased common shares in this offering with respect to the number of shares purchased, the total consideration paid and the average price per share paid.

         
  Shares Purchased   Total Consideration   Average
Price
Per Share
     Number   Percent   Amount   Percent
Founders, executive officers and directors                  $              $       
Other existing shareholders (1)                     $              $  
New investors (2)              0     $                   $  
Total              100.0 %     $            100.0 %        

(1) Does not include any shares underlying unexercised warrants and options.
(2) Based on an assumed initial public offering price of $     per share.

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The information above assumes the representative does not exercise its overallotment option. If the representative exercises its over-allotment option in full, the investors in this offering will purchase      common shares for an aggregate gross purchase price of $     million ($     after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us), representing approximately     % of the total consideration for % of the total number of issued outstanding common shares and the dilution to new investors will be $     per share, or     %.

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2016:

on an actual basis;
on a pro forma basis to give effect to the following as if they occurred on January 1, 2016: (i) the issuance of 8,533,237 common shares prior to the consummation of this offering, including 6,283,237 common shares that will be issued to SCP pursuant to the Exchange Agreement in exchange for all of the assets and liabilities of SCP; (ii) the elimination of the management fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP; (iii) the direct payment of salaries and other forms of compensation to John Villano and Jeffrey Villano; (iv) the direct payment of origination fees to us rather than to JJV; and (v) normalizing various other operating expenses, such as rent; and
on a pro forma, as adjusted, basis giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustments as well as issuance and sale of      common at an initial public offering price of $     per share and the receipt of $     of net proceeds therefrom after deducting the estimated underwriting commissions and discounts and other offering expenses, as set forth in this prospectus.

You should read this table together with the information contained in this prospectus, including “Use of Proceeds,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

     
  As at June 30, 2016
     (Actual)   (Pro Forma)   (Pro Forma,
As Adjusted)
Line of credit   $ 7,275,000     $ 7,275,000     $            
Members’ equity     26,055,092              
Shareholders’ equity:
                          
Preferred shares, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding   $     $     $  
Common shares, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 8,533,237 shares issued and outstanding pro forma and      shares issued and outstanding, pro forma, as adjusted           8,533           
Additional paid in capital           25,752,883           
Retained earnings                     
Total shareholders’ equity           25,761,416                   
Total capitalization   $ 33,330,092     $ 33,036,416     $            

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of certain events may differ significantly from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are a Connecticut-based real estate finance company that specializes in originating, underwriting, funding, servicing and managing a portfolio of short-term ( i.e. , three years or less) loans secured by first mortgage liens on real property located primarily in Connecticut. Each loan is also personally guaranteed by the principal(s) of the borrower, which guaranty is typically collaterally secured by a pledge of the guarantor’s interest in the borrower. Our typical borrower is a small real estate investor who will use the proceeds to fund its acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, development and/or improvement of residential or commercial properties located primarily in Connecticut held for investment or sale. The property may or may not be income producing. We do not lend to owner-occupants. Our loans are referred to in the real estate finance industry as “hard money loans.”

We believe that upon completion of this offering we will meet all of the requirements to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes and we intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT beginning with the year in which this offering is consummated.

Since commencing operations in 2010, SCP has made over 365 loans, not including renewals or extensions of existing loans. At June 30, 2016, (i) SCP’s loan portfolio included 193 loans with an aggregate loan amount of approximately $30.4 million with the principal amount of individual loans ranging from $20,000 to $1.7 million, (ii) the average original principal amount of the loans in the portfolio was $162,124 and the median loan amount was $110,000 and (iii) over 85% of the loans had a principal amount of $250,000 or less. At December 31, 2015, SCP’s loan portfolio included 185 loans with an aggregate loan amount of approximately $27.5 million and with the principal amount of individual loans ranging from $20,000 to $1.7 million, (ii) the average original principal amount of the loans in the portfolio was $147,000 and the median loan amount was $113,700 and (iii) over 62% of the loans had a principal amount of $250,000 or less. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 unfunded commitments for future advances under construction loans totaled $950,658 and $1,264,512, respectively. Similarly, SCP’s revenues and net income have been growing. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 revenues and net income were approximately $2.0 million and $1.6 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 revenues were $2.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively, and net income was $2.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively. While we cannot assure that we will be able to sustain these growth rates indefinitely, we do believe the business will continue to grow over the next few years. We expect most of the growth will be attributable to our further expansion into the Connecticut real estate market and our expansion throughout New England and into various Mid-Atlantic states, particularly portions of New York and New Jersey.

Our loans typically have a maximum initial term of three years and bear interest at a fixed rate of 9% to 12% per year and a default rate for non-payment of 18%. In addition, we usually receive origination fees, or “points,” ranging from 2% to 5% of the original principal amount of the loan as well as other fees relating to underwriting, funding and managing the loan. When we renew or extend a loan we generally receive additional “points” and other fees. Interest is always payable monthly in arrears. As a matter of policy, we do not make any loans if the loan-to value ratio exceeds 65%. In the case of construction loans, the loan-to-value ratio is based on the post-construction value of the property. In the case of loans having a principal amount in excess of $500,000, we require a formal appraisal by a licensed appraiser. In the case of smaller loans, we rely on readily available market data, including tax assessment rolls, recent sales transactions and brokers to evaluate the strength of the collateral. Finally, we will adopt a policy, to take effect at the time this offering becomes effective, that will limit the maximum amount of any loan we fund to a single borrower or a group of affiliated borrowers to 10% of the aggregate amount of our loan portfolio after taking into account the loan under consideration.

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As a “hard money” real estate lender, our revenue consists primarily of interest earned on our loan portfolio and our net income is basically the spread between the interest we earn and our cost of funds. Since our capital structure is more heavily weighted to equity rather than debt (approximately 78.2% vs 21.8% of our total capitalization at June 30, 2016) our cost of funds is relatively low (6.50%.) As of June 30, 2016, the annual yield on SCP’s loan portfolio was 11.9% per annum. The yield has been increasing steadily over the past few years as older loans with lower interest rates come due and are either being repaid or refinanced at higher rates. Cost of capital is 0% for equity and 6.5% for debt as of June 30, 2016, providing a spread of 11.9% to 5.4% our blended cost of capital as of June 30, 2016. The yield reflected above does not include other amounts collected from borrowers and retained by SCP such as origination fees and late payment fees. While we expect interest rates to increase in the near term, we believe we will be able to match these increases by increasing our rates on new loans. In order to grow our business, we will have to increase our loan portfolio and that will require additional capital, including the proceeds from this offering. We may also incur additional debt. We have not adopted any policy that limits the amount of debt we may incur. Thus, our operating income in the future will depend on how much debt we incur and the spread between our cost of funds and the yield on our loan portfolio. If interest rates increase as expected, we do not believe this will have a material adverse impact on our business as we believe we will be able to increase the rates on our loans to offset the increase in our cost of funds and to satisfy investor demand for yield. However, if interest rates rise quickly, we may not be able to match the increases to our borrowing costs with increases in our loans at the same pace, which could adversely impact our income. In addition, rapidly rising interest rates could have an unsettling effect on real estate values, which could compromise some of our collateral.

Our primary objective is to grow our loan portfolio while protecting and preserving capital in a manner that provides for attractive risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders over the long term principally through dividends. We intend to achieve this objective by continuing to focus on selectively originating, managing and servicing a portfolio of first mortgage real estate loans and carefully manage our loan portfolio in a manner designed to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns across a variety of market conditions and economic cycles. We believe that the demand for commercial real estate loans that have a principal amount of less than $500,000, in Connecticut and neighboring states is significant and growing and that traditional lenders, including banks and other financial institutions that usually serve this market are unable to satisfy this demand. This demand/supply imbalance has created an opportunity for “hard money” real estate lenders like us to selectively originate high-quality first mortgage loans on attractive terms and these conditions should persist for a number of years.

We have built our business on a foundation of intimate knowledge of the Connecticut real estate market, our ability to respond quickly to customer needs and demands and a disciplined underwriting and due diligence culture that focuses primarily on the value of the underlying collateral and that is designed to protect and preserve capital. We believe that our flexibility in terms of meeting the needs of borrowers without compromising our standards on credit risk, our expertise, our intimate knowledge of the real estate market in Connecticut and the surrounding states and our focus on newly originated first mortgage loans has defined our success until now and should enable us to continue to achieve our objectives.

Our principal executive officers are experienced in hard money lending under various economic and market conditions. Our founders and co-chief executive officers, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, spend a significant portion of their time on business development as well as on underwriting, structuring and servicing each loan in our portfolio. A principal source of new transactions has been repeat business from existing and former customers and their referral of new business. We also receive leads for new business from banks, brokers, attorneys and web-based advertising. We rely on our own employees, independent legal counsel, and other independent professionals to verify title and ownership, to file liens and to consummate the transactions.

Sources of Capital

We use a combination of equity capital and the proceeds of debt financing to fund our operations. We do not have any formal policy limiting the amount of debt we may incur. However, under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Agreement, we may not incur any additional indebtedness without Bankwell’s consent. Depending on various factors we may, in the future, decide to take on additional debt to expand our mortgage loan origination activities in order to increase the potential returns to our shareholders. Although we have no

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pre-set guidelines in terms of leverage ratio, the amount of leverage we will deploy will depend on our assessment of a variety of factors, which may include the liquidity of the real estate market in which most of our collateral is located, employment rates, general economic conditions, the cost of funds relative to the yield curve, the potential for losses and extension risk in our portfolio, the gap between the duration of our assets and liabilities, our opinion regarding the creditworthiness of our borrowers, the value of the collateral underlying our portfolio, and our outlook for interest rates and property values. At June 30, 2016, debt proceeds represented 21.8% of our total capital. However, in order to grow the business and satisfy the requirement to pay out 90% of net profits, we expect to increase our level of debt over time to approximately 50% of capital. We intend to use leverage for the sole purpose of financing our portfolio and not for the purpose of speculating on changes in interest rates.

SCP commenced operations in December 2010 with no capital. By January 2011, it had raised $443,000 of initial capital, of which $70,000 was contributed by an affiliate of Jeffrey Villano. At June 30, 2016, members’ equity was $26.1 million. Through June 30, 2016, JJV, LLC (“JJV”), the managing member of SCP, whose principals are Jeffrey Villano and John Villano, Sachem Capital’s co-chief executive officers, total capital contribution to SCP was an aggregate of $794,000. In addition, the Villano brothers, individually and through affiliates, contributed a total of an additional $1,926,000 of capital to SCP. JJV’s initial capital contribution of $35,000 was made in August 2011. The principal purpose of this offering is to raise additional equity capital to expand our real estate lending business.

Another source of capital for us is our $15.0 million Bankwell Credit Line. Borrowings under the Bankwell Credit Line bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) a variable rate equal to the sum of the prime rate of interest as in effect from time to time (3.50% as of October 1, 2016) plus 3.0% or (ii) 6.25% per annum. The Bankwell Credit Line expires and the outstanding indebtedness thereunder will become due and payable in full on March 15, 2018. Assuming we are not then in default under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Agreement, we have the option to repay the outstanding balance, together with all accrued interest thereon in 36 equal monthly installments beginning April 15, 2019. The Bankwell Credit Line is secured by assignment of mortgages and other collateral and is jointly and severally guaranteed by JJV, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, our founders and co-chief executive officers. However, each of their respective liability under the guaranty is capped at $1 million.

The basic eligibility requirements for an advance under the Bankwell Credit Line are as follows:

the initial term of the note may not exceed 36 months and the original maturity date may not be extended for more than 36 months;
the collateral securing the mortgage may not be the borrower’s primary residence;
mortgage loans to any single borrower or to multiple borrowers that have the same guarantor cannot exceed $450,000 in the aggregate;
minimum credit scores for the borrower and guarantors of loans in excess of $100,000 of (i) 625 for loans with a loan-to-value ratio of 50% or less or (ii) 660 for loans with a loan-to-value ratio of more than 50% but less than 75%;
maximum amount of any advance against an eligible note receivable is $250,000;
payments on the underlying loan may not be more than 60 days past due; and
receipt of certain information relating to the property including an appraisal (if the amount of the underlying loan exceeds $325,000) or other relevant data regarding value (if the amount of the underlying loan is less than $325,000).

The Bankwell Credit Line contains various covenants and restrictions that are typical for these kinds of credit facilities, including limiting the amount that we can borrow relative to the value of the underlying collateral, maintaining various financial ratios and limitations on the terms of loans we make to our customers. Under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Line, the amount outstanding at any one time may not exceed the lesser of (i) $15.0 million and (ii) our Eligible Note Receivables (as defined in the Bankwell Credit Agreement). In addition, each “Advance” is further limited to the lesser of (i) 50%-75%, depending on the

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loan-to-value ratio, of the principal amount of the particular Eligible Note Receivable being funded and (ii) $250,000. As of June 30, 2016, we estimate that loans having an aggregate principal amount of $25.3 million, representing approximately 87% of SCP’s mortgage receivables, satisfied all of the eligibility requirements set forth in the Bankwell Agreement. As of June 30, 2016, the total amount outstanding under the Bankwell Credit Line was $7.275 million leaving us with sufficient borrowing capacity to draw the entire $15 million facility if we so choose. Given the nature of our business, we cannot assure you that we will always be able to borrow the maximum allowed under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Line.

In addition, the Bankwell Credit Line includes the following restrictions, limitations and prohibitions:

prohibiting any liens on any of the collateral securing the Bankwell Credit Line, which is essentially all of our assets;
prohibiting us from merging, consolidating or disposing of any asset;
prohibiting us from incurring any other indebtedness to a third party;
prohibiting us from forming or transacting business with any subsidiary or affiliate other than to make loans to our borrowers;
prohibiting us from allowing any litigation in excess of $50,000 against any of our assets unless we are fully insured against such loss;
prohibiting us from issuing or redeeming any equity interest, distributing any equity interest, pay any indebtedness owed to an equity holder, suffer any change in ownership that would result in JJV, Jeffrey Villano and John Villano collectively owning less than 50% of the membership interests in SCP;
prohibiting us from declaring or paying any dividends except in certain limited circumstances;
prohibiting us from purchasing any securities issued by or otherwise invest in any public or private entity;
suffer any change in our executive management; and
change the form or nature of SCP’s or JJV’s ownership structure

Loan covenants include the following:

punctually pay amounts due;
pay on demand any charges customarily incurred or levied by Bankwell;
pay any and all taxes, assessments or other charges assessed against us or any of our assets;
pay all insurance premiums;
maintain our principal deposit and disbursement accounts with Bankwell;
perfect Bankwell’s lien on the assets;
comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of any governmental authority; or
change the nature of our business.

Finally, we must comply with the following financial covenants:

continuously maintain a fixed charge ratio of at least 1.35:1.00 at the end of each fiscal year;
continuously maintain a tangible net worth of not less than $15 million at the end of each fiscal quarter;
John Villano’s minimal capital investment in SCP may not be less than $195,000;
Jeffrey Villano’s minimal capital investment in SCP, directly and indirectly through affiliates, may not be less than $1,750,000; and

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JJV’s minimal capital investment in SCP may not be less than $575,000.

The term fixed charge ratio means, with respect to each fiscal year, the ratio of (A) the sum of (i) EBITDA (i.e., net income before provision for payment of interest, federal income taxes plus depreciation and amortization, as determined under GAAP) and (ii) capital contributions minus the sum of (iii) income taxes paid in cash, (iv) unfinanced capital expenditures and (v) dividends, distributions and draws paid to members to (B) the sum of (i) interest expense accrued for such period and paid in cash at any time by the borrower and the current portion of long term indebtedness (including capital leases) paid. The term tangible net worth mean the borrower’s net worth less the total of all assets that are classified as “intangible” under GAAP.

Corporate Reorganization and REIT Qualification

Prior to consummating this offering we will change our entity status from a limited liability company to a C corporation. To effect this change, we have entered into an Exchange Agreement with SCP pursuant to which SCP will transfer all of its assets and liabilities to us in exchange for 6,283,237 of its common shares and the assumption of SCP’s obligations under the Bankwell Credit Line. SCP will then distribute the common shares to its members, pro rata in accordance with their capital account balances in full liquidation of their membership interests. We expect to consummate the exchange on or prior to the date of this prospectus.

Immediately thereafter, SCP will distribute those shares to its members in full liquidation of their membership interests in SCP, pro rata in accordance with the members’ positive capital account balances.

For accounting purposes, the consummation of the exchange transaction will be treated as a recapitalization of SCP.

The pre-offering capitalization of Sachem Capital was based on discussions with the representative and took into account (i) SCP’s historical financial performance, including revenues, net profits, cash flow from operations and distributions to members, (ii) our prospects (taking into account, among other things, any anticipated changes as a result of the change in SCP’s status from an LLC to a regular C corporation and our operation as a REIT for income tax purposes) and (iii) the market value of comparable public companies. The parties agreed to value Sachem Capital at an amount equal to approximately 164% of SCP’s members’ equity at June 30, 2016, which was then divided by the proposed initial public offering price to arrive at the pre-offering capitalization of Sachem Capital. A portion of these shares were allocated to the founders of Sachem Capital and the balance to the members of SCP Capital. The result is that each member of SCP is expected to receive Sachem Capital common shares having a value of approximately $1.206 for each $1.00 in its capital account.

JJV, whose members include various members of the Villano family, in the liquidation of SCP will receive        common shares, or approximately   % of the common shares to be issued in the exchange. In addition, the Villano brothers, individually and through their affiliates, will receive an additional        common shares, or   % of the common shares issued in the exchange. In addition, Jeffrey Villano and John Villano, were each issued 1,085,000 common shares of Sachem Capital upon its formation. Accordingly, after giving effect to the exchange but immediately prior to this offering, in total, Jeffrey and John Villano, collectively, will beneficially own         common shares (or   %) of Sachem Capital’s common shares.

We believe that upon completion of this offering we will meet all of the requirements to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT beginning with our tax year in which this offering is consummated or as soon as practicable thereafter. As a REIT, we are entitled to claim deductions for distributions of taxable income to our shareholders thereby eliminating any corporate tax on such taxable income. Any taxable income not distributed to shareholders is subject to tax at the regular corporate tax rates and may also be subject to a 4% exercise tax to the extent it exceeds 10% of our total taxable income. In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute each year at least 90% of our taxable income. As a REIT, we may also be subject to federal excise taxes and state taxes.

We expect our operating expenses to increase significantly once this offering is completed. The additional operating expenses are attributable to a number of factors including our conversion from a limited liability company to a regular C corporation, operating as a REIT, our status as a publicly-held reporting company and growth in our operations. As a corporation we will incur various costs and expenses that we did not have as a

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limited liability company, such as director fees, directors’ and officers’ insurance and state and local franchise taxes. In addition, in lieu of paying a management fees to our manager, JJV, we will incur significant compensation and other employee-related costs for services rendered by our senior executive officers. Moreover, because of various laws, rules and regulations that prohibit or severely limit our ability to enter into agreements with related parties, certain operating expenses, such as rent, will increase as well. Finally, we anticipate increases in professional fees, filing fees, printing and mailing costs, exchange listing fees, transfer agent fees and other miscellaneous costs related to our compliance with various laws, rules and regulations applicable to REITs and a publicly-held reporting company. For example, we will be required to, among other things, file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and operating results. Also, as a public reporting company, we must establish and maintain effective disclosure and financial controls. As a result, we may need to hire additional accounting and finance personnel with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge, which will also increase our operating expenses.

Emerging Growth Company Status

We are an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the JOBS Act, and, for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to have our independent registered public accounting firm audit our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As an emerging growth company we can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We intend to avail ourselves of these options. Once adopted, we must continue to report on that basis until we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company.

We will cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest of: (i) the end of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of this offering; (ii) the first fiscal year after our annual gross revenue are $1.0 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or (iv) the end of any fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700 million as of the end of the second quarter of that fiscal year. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. If, as a result of our decision to reduce future disclosure, investors find our common shares less attractive, there may be a less active trading market for our common shares and the price of our common shares may be more volatile.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our use of estimates on (a) a preset number of assumptions that consider past experience, (b) future projections and (c) general financial market conditions. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.

We recognize revenues in accordance with ASC 605, which provides guidance on the recognition, presentation and disclosure of revenue in financial statements. ASC 605 outlines the basic criteria that must be met to recognize revenue and provides guidance for disclosure related to revenue recognition policies. In general, we recognize revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery of the product has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the sales price charged is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. Accordingly, interest income from commercial loans is recognized, as earned, over the loan period and origination fee revenue on commercial loans is amortized over the term of the respective note.

As an “emerging growth company,” we intend to avail ourselves of the of the reduced disclosure requirements and extended transition periods for adopting new or revised accounting standards that would otherwise apply to us as a public reporting company. Once adopted, we must continue to report on that basis

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until we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to those of other public reporting companies that either are not emerging growth companies or that are emerging growth companies but have opted not to avail themselves of these provisions of the JOBS Act and investors may deem our securities a less attractive investment relative to those other companies, which could adversely affect our stock price.

Results of operations

Sachem Capital was formed in January 2016 and, prior to the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Exchange Agreement and this offering, will not have engaged in any business activity. Therefore, it has no historical financial data. The results of operations discussed below are those of SCP, which, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, will transfer all of its assets and liabilities to Sachem Capital in exchange for 6,283,237 common shares of Sachem Capital. SCP will distribute those common shares to its members, in accordance with their capital account balances, in liquidation. For accounting purposes, the consummation of the exchange transaction will be treated as a recapitalization of SCP.

Six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

Total revenue

Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was approximately $1,974,000 compared to approximately $1,032,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $942,000, or 91.3%. The increase in revenue represents an increase in lending operations. For the first half of 2016, approximately $1,735,000 of our revenue represents interest income from loans, $95,000 represented origination fees and $101,000 represented late fees. In comparison, in the corresponding 2015 period interest income from loans was $916,000, origination fees were $58,500 and late fees were $28,500. We believe the increase in late fees is a continuation of a trend that began in the second half of 2015 and reflects our decision to strictly enforce our right to collect late fees unless a borrower can demonstrate hardship . However, we do not believe that this reflects any inherent financial weakness with our borrowers as we have not experienced any concomitant rise in default rates. We further believe late payments will revert to their historical levels in 2017.

Operating costs and expenses

Total operating costs and expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were approximately $421,300 compared to approximately $165,400 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $256,000 or 154.7%. The increase was due almost entirely to increases in interest expense, professional fees, and compensation to manager. For the first half of 2016, interest and amortization of deferred financing costs were approximately $222,000 and compensation to manager was $152,500. In comparison, for the first half of 2015, the corresponding amounts were $70,000 and $77,000. The increase in interest and amortization of deferred financing costs is directly attributable to higher levels of debt in 2016. The average daily amount outstanding under the Bankwell Credit Line in the first half of 2016 was $5,998,100 compared to $1,797,800 in the first half of 2015. The increase in compensation to manager in the first half of 2016 over the first half of 2015 is directly related to the increase in our revenue, which is directly related to the increase in the size of our loan portfolio, which, in turn, grew as a result of increases in our equity capital and debt.

Net income

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was approximately $1,552,350 compared to approximately $866,800 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 resulting from the increase in our lending activities, partially offset by the increase in operating costs and expenses.

Years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014

Total revenue

Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015 was approximately $2,787,000 compared to approximately $1,559,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $1,228,000, or 78.8%. The increase in revenue represents an increase in lending operations. In 2015, approximately $2,478,000 of our revenue represents interest income on secured, real estate loans that we offer to small businesses compared to approximately $1,419,000 in 2014, and approximately $108,000 represents origination fees on such loans compared to approximately $68,000 in 2014. The loans are secured by collateral consisting of real estate and are personally guaranteed by the principals of the borrower.

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Operating costs and expenses

Total operating costs and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were approximately $480,000 compared to approximately $90,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $390,000 or 433%. The principal contributors to operating costs and expenses were interest and amortization of deferred financing costs and compensation to manager. For the year ended December 31, 2015, interest and debt service amortization costs were approximately $221,700 and compensation to manager was $210,400. In comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2014, the corresponding amounts were $13,300 and $76,000, respectively. The increase in interest and amortization of deferred financing costs is directly attributable to higher levels of debt in 2015. The average daily amount outstanding under the Bankwell Credit Line in 2015 was $3,096,271 compared to $5,000,000 in 2014. The increase in compensation to manager in 2015 over 2014 is directly related to the increase in revenue, which, in turn, is directly related to the increase in the size of our loan portfolio.

Net income

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 was approximately $2,300,000 compared to approximately $1,470,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 resulting from the increase in our lending activities, partially offset by the increase in operating costs and expenses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was approximately $1.6 million compared to $920,000 for the corresponding 2015 period. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 net cash provided by operating activities was $2.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

Net cash used for investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $3,346,000 compared to $5,494,000 for the corresponding 2015 period. Proceeds from sale of real estate owned in the 2016 period was $229,000 compared to $422,000 in the 2015 period. The 2016 period also included $561,000 of cash used to acquire and improve real estate relating to non-performing loans. We had no such expenditures in 2015. Finally, in the 2016 period, principal disbursements for mortgage receivable were $9.1 million and principal collections were $6.35 million. In the comparable 2015 period, the corresponding amounts were $8.83 million and $2.9 million, respectively. We believe that the increased rate of prepayments of outstanding loans may be a result of increasing lending activity by traditional lenders, such as banks, which could be an indicator of improving economic conditions in general. If this trend continues it may signal increased competition for our business. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, net cash used for investing activities was $13.2 million and $5.2 million, respectively, which, together with member contributions, relates to the increase in our loan portfolio from $14.8 million at December 31, 2014 to $27.5 million at December 31, 2015.

Cash flows from financing activities basically reflects the difference between proceeds from borrowings under the Bankwell Credit Line and member contributions, on the one hand, and repayments of the amounts outstanding on the Bankwell Credit Line and distributions to members, on the other hand. Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $1.36 million compared to $686,000 for the corresponding 2015 period. For the 2016 period, the principal elements were $4.175 million of proceeds from the Bankwell Credit Line, $2.9 million of payments to Bankwell, approximately $2.5 million of member contributions and approximately $2.24 million of distributions to members. In addition, we incurred approximately $65,000 of financing costs and $125,000 of cost related to this offering. For the 2015 period, the principal elements were (i) $2.85 million of proceeds from Bankwell, (ii) $4.5 million of payments to Bankwell, (iii) approximately $2.7 million of member contributions and (iv) approximately $316,000 distributions to members. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, net cash provided by financing activities was $6.8 million and $8.6 million, respectively. For 2015, the principal elements were $6.0 million of proceeds from the Bankwell Credit Line, $5.0 million of repayments to Bankwell, approximately $7.2 million member contributions and approximately $1.4 million of distributions to members. For 2014, the principal elements were $5.0 million of proceeds from the Bankwell Credit Line, approximately $4.3 million member contributions and approximately $637,000 of distributions to members.

We project anticipated cash requirements for our operating needs as well as cash flows generated from operating activities available to meet these needs. Our short-term cash requirements primarily include funding of loans and payments for usual and customary operating and administrative expenses, such as employee

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compensation, rent, sales and marketing expenses and dividends. Based on this analysis, we believe that our current cash balances, the amount available to us under the Bankwell Credit Line and our anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fund the operations for the next 12 months.

Our long-term cash needs will include principal payments on outstanding indebtedness and funding of new mortgage loans. Funding for long-term cash needs will come from our cash on hand after this offering is completed, operating cash flows, and unused capacity of the Bankwell Credit Line or any replacement thereof.

From and after the effective date of our REIT election, we intend to pay regular quarterly distributions to holders of our common shares in an amount not less than 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gains).

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that are likely to affect liquidity or the availability of our requirements for capital resources.

Contractual Obligations

We had no contractual obligations as of June 30, 2016. However, both SCP and JJV have contractual obligations that we will assume in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement. In the case of SCP, these obligations include unfunded amounts of any outstanding construction loans and unfunded commitments for loans. In JJV’s case, the contractual obligations consist of operating leases for equipment and software licenses that it uses in connection with the services it provides to SCP as its manager.

         
  Total   Less than
1 year
  1 – 3 years   3 – 5 years   More than
5 years
Operating lease obligations   $ 24,716     $ 8,016     $ 16,700     $     $  
Unfunded portions of outstanding construction loans     950,658                          
Unfunded loan commitments     255,000                          
Total contractual obligations   $ 1,230,374     $ 8,016     $ 16,700     $     $  

At June 30, 2016, we owed approximately $351,000 to JJV of which approximately $44,000 represented management fees due to JJV and approximately $307,000 represented expenses paid by JJV for and on behalf of SCP for services rendered to SCP in connection with originating, underwriting, closing and servicing loans on behalf of SCP. All amounts due to JJV by SCP as of the date immediately preceding the date of this offering will be paid by SCP from its cash on hand. From and after this offering, JJV will no longer be entitled to any management fee or other fee for services rendered to SCP and may not pay any expenses for or on our behalf unless specifically authorized by our board of directors, which majority must also include a majority of the “independent” directors.

Recent Technical Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “ Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ”. Under the ASU, an entity presents debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. The ASU is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods therein. For private companies and not-for-profit organizations, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-07, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) (a consensus of the Emerging Task Force)” . The ASU provides reporting for entities with an option to measure the fair value of certain investments using net asset value instead of fair value. The ASU is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods therein. For all other entities, the ASU is

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effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, “Interest — Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of Credit Arrangements — Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting” . The ASU incorporates the SEC staff’s announcement that clarifies the exclusion of line-of-credit arrangements from the scope of ASU 2015-03. Therefore, debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements can be deferred and presented as an asset that is subsequently amortized over the time of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The ASU should be adopted concurrent with adoption of ASU 2015-03. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, “ Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes ”. The ASU simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring deferred tax liabilities and assets to be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. This Update will align the presentation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For public business entities, the ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments — Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”. The ASU intends to provide users of financial statements with more useful information on the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. For public business entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for certain provisions. We do not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses of Financial Instruments”. The ASU aligns the accounting and economics of lending by requiring banks and other lending institutions to immediately record the full amount of credit losses that are expected in their loan portfolios, providing investors with better information about those losses on a timelier basis. For public business entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption will be permitted for all organizations for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effected, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

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BUSINESS

General

We are a Connecticut-based real estate finance company that specializes in originating, underwriting, funding, servicing and managing a portfolio of short-term ( i.e. , three years or less) loans secured by first mortgage liens on real property located primarily in Connecticut. Each loan is also personally guaranteed by the principal(s) of the borrower, which guaranty is typically collaterally secured by a pledge of the guarantor’s interest in the borrower. Our typical borrower is a small real estate investor who will use the proceeds to fund its acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, development and/or improvement of residential or commercial properties located primarily in Connecticut held for investment or sale. The property may or may not be income producing. We do not lend to owner-occupants. Our loans are referred to in the real estate finance industry as “hard money loans.”

Our loans typically have a maximum initial term of three years and bear interest at a fixed rate of 9% to 12% per year and a default rate for non-payment of 18%. In addition, we usually receive origination fees, or “points,” ranging from 2% to 5% of the original principal amount of the loan as well as other fees relating to underwriting, funding and managing the loan. When we renew or extend a loan we generally receive additional “points” and other fees. Interest is always payable monthly in arrears. As a matter of policy, we do not make any loans if the loan-to-value ratio exceeds 65%. In the case of construction loans, the loan-to-value ratio is based on the post-construction value of the property. In the case of loans having a principal amount in excess of $500,000, we require a formal appraisal by a licensed appraiser. In the case of smaller loans, we rely on readily available market data, including tax assessment rolls, recent sales transactions and brokers to evaluate the strength of the collateral. Finally, we will adopt a policy, to take effect at the time this offering becomes effective, that will limit the maximum amount of any loan we fund to a single borrower or a group of affiliated borrowers to 10% of the aggregate amount of our loan portfolio after taking into account the loan under consideration.

Our principal executive officers are experienced in hard money lending under various economic and market conditions. Our founders and co-chief executive officers, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, spend a significant portion of their time on business development as well as on underwriting, structuring and servicing each loan in our portfolio. A principal source of new transactions has been repeat business from existing and former customers and their referral of new business. We also receive leads for new business from banks, brokers, attorneys and web-based advertising. We rely on our own employees, independent legal counsel, and other independent professionals to verify title and ownership, to file liens and to consummate the transactions.

Our primary objective is to grow our loan portfolio while protecting and preserving capital in a manner that provides for attractive risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders over the long term through dividends. We intend to achieve this objective by continuing to selectively originate loans and carefully manage our loan portfolio in a manner designed to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns across a variety of market conditions and economic cycles. We believe that the demand for relatively small real estate loans in Connecticut and neighboring states is significant and growing and that traditional lenders, including banks and other financial institutions that usually serve this market are unable to satisfy this demand. This demand/supply imbalance has created an opportunity for “hard money” real estate lenders like us to selectively originate high-quality first mortgage loans on attractive terms and these conditions should persist for a number of years. We have built our business on a foundation of intimate knowledge of the Connecticut real estate market, our ability to respond quickly to customer needs and demands and a disciplined underwriting and due diligence culture that focuses primarily on the value of the underlying collateral and that is designed to protect and preserve capital. We believe that our flexibility in terms of meeting the needs of borrowers without compromising our standards on credit risk, our expertise, our intimate knowledge of the real estate market in Connecticut and various other states and our focus on newly originated first mortgage loans has defined our success until now and should enable us to continue to achieve our objectives.

We were originally organized as a Connecticut limited liability company. In anticipation of this offering, we will convert to a New York C corporation with the intent of qualifying as a REIT. As a REIT, we will be required to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our shareholders each year in order to maintain

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that status. To the extent we distribute less than 100% of our taxable income to our shareholders (but more than 90%) we will maintain our REIT status but the undistributed portion will be subject to regular corporate income taxes. As a REIT, we may also be subject to federal excise taxes and minimum state taxes. We also intend to operate our business in a manner that will permit us to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act.

The Market Opportunity

Real estate investment is a capital-intensive business that relies heavily on debt capital to acquire, develop, improve, construct, renovate and maintain properties. We believe there is a significant market opportunity for a well-capitalized “hard money” real estate finance company to originate attractively priced loans with strong credit fundamentals. We further believe that the demand for relatively small real estate loans ( i.e. , loans having an original principal amount of less than $500,000) to acquire, develop, renovate, rehabilitate or improve residential or commercial real estate held for investment in Connecticut and certain other states ( e.g., New York and Massachusetts), where real estate values in many neighborhoods are either stable or increasing and substandard properties are being improved, rehabilitated and renovated, presents a compelling opportunity to generate attractive returns for an established, well-financed, non-bank lender like us. We have competed successfully in the Connecticut market since December 2010 notwithstanding the fact that many traditional lenders, such as banks and other institutional lenders, also service this market. We believe our primary competitive advantage is our ability to approve and fund loans quickly and efficiently and our flexibility to structure loans to meet the particular needs of the borrower. In this environment, characterized by a supply-demand imbalance for financing and stable asset values, we believe we are well positioned to capitalize and profit from these industry dynamics.

Our Business and Growth Strategies

Our primary objective is to grow our loan portfolio while protecting and preserving capital in a manner that provides for attractive risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders over the long term principally through dividends. We intend to achieve this objective by continuing to focus exclusively on selectively originating, servicing and managing a portfolio of short-term ( i.e., three years or less) loans secured by first mortgages on real estate located primarily in Connecticut as well as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York that are designed to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns across a variety of market conditions and economic cycles. We believe that our ability to react quickly to the needs of borrowers, our flexibility in terms of structuring loans to meet the needs of borrowers, our intimate knowledge of the real estate markets that we serve, our expertise in “hard money” lending and our focus on newly originated first mortgage loans, should enable us to achieve this objective. Nevertheless, we will remain flexible in order to take advantage of other real estate related opportunities that may arise from time to time, whether they relate to the mortgage market or to direct or indirect investments in real estate.

Our strategy to achieve our objective includes the following:

capitalize on opportunities created by the long-term structural changes in the real estate lending market and the continuing lack of liquidity in the real estate market;
take advantage of the prevailing economic environment as well as economic, political and social trends that may impact real estate lending currently and in the future as well as the outlook for real estate in general and particular asset classes;
remain flexible in order to capitalize on changing sets of investment opportunities that may be present in the various points of an economic cycle; and
operate so as to qualify as a REIT and for an exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act.

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Our Competitive Strengths

We believe our competitive strengths include:

Experienced management team .  Our management team has successfully originated and serviced a portfolio of real estate mortgage loans generating attractive annual returns under varying economic and real estate market conditions. We expect that the experience of our management team will provide us with the ability to effectively deploy our capital in a manner that we believe will provide for attractive risk-adjusted returns but with a focus on capital preservation and protection.
Long-standing relationships .   At June 30, 2016, 20% of SCP’s loan portfolio consisted of loans to borrowers with whom it has a long-term relationship, including JJV, which accounts for 4.5% of our loan portfolios. Customers are also a referral source for new borrowers. So long as these borrowers remain active real estate investors they provide us with an advantage in securing new business and help us maintain a pipeline to attractive new opportunities that may not be available to many of our competitors or to the general market.
Knowledge of the market .  Our intimate knowledge of the Connecticut real estate market enhances our ability to identify attractive opportunities and helps distinguish us from many of our competitors.
Disciplined lending .  We seek to maximize our risk-adjusted returns, and preserve and protect capital, through our disciplined and credit-based approach. We utilize rigorous underwriting and loan closing procedures that include numerous checks and balances to evaluate the risks and merits of each potential transaction. We seek to protect and preserve capital by carefully evaluating the condition of the property, the location of the property, the value of the property and other forms of collateral.
Vertically-integrated loan origination platform .  We manage and control the loan process from origination through closing with our own personnel or independent legal counsel and, in the case of larger loans ( i.e., loans with an original principal amount in excess of $500,000) independent appraisers, with whom we have long-standing relationships, who together constitute a team highly experienced in credit evaluation, underwriting and loan structuring. We also believe that our procedures and experience allows us to quickly and efficiently execute opportunities we deem desirable.
Structuring flexibility .  As a relatively small, non-bank real estate lender, we can move quickly and have much more flexibility than traditional lenders to structure loans to suit the needs of our clients. Our ability to customize financing structures to meet borrowers’ needs is one of our key business strengths.
No legacy issues .  Unlike many of our competitors, we are not burdened by distressed legacy real estate assets. We do not have a legacy portfolio of lower-return or problem loans that could potentially dilute the attractive returns we believe are available in the current liquidity-challenged environment and/or distract and monopolize our management team’s time and attention. We do not have any adverse credit exposure to, and we do not anticipate that our performance will be negatively impacted by, previously purchased assets.
History of successful operations .  SCP commenced operations in December 2010 with three investors and limited equity capital. At June 30, 2016, it had approximately 160 investors and equity capital of $26.1 million, including capital invested by our founders and their respective affiliates. In addition, its loan portfolio grew to $30.4 million at that date. Over the last six years, SCP’s revenues, net income, cash flows and distributions to investors have steadily increased, SCP has closed on almost 400 loans and obtained a $15 million line of credit to support its lending operations. Since its inception in December 2010, SCP acquired one property through a foreclosure action and eight other properties by “deed in lieu of foreclosure” —  i.e. , the borrower, in default of its obligations under the terms of the loan, transferred title to the mortgaged property to SCP. The foreclosed property was sold for a small loss and one of the other properties was sold at breakeven. Two properties were sold for less than their respective carrying values but the borrowers’ obligations are guaranteed by a third party and SCP intends to assert its rights under the guaranty. The other five properties are being held for sale.

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Our Real Estate Lending Activities

Our real estate lending activities involve originating, underwriting, funding, servicing and managing short-term loans ( i.e., loans with an initial term of three years or less), secured by first mortgage liens on real estate property held for investment purposes located primarily in Connecticut. Generally, borrowers use the proceeds from our loans for one of three purposes: (i) to acquire and/or renovate existing residential (single-, two- or three-family) real estate properties; (ii) to acquire vacant real estate and construct residential real properties; and (iii) to purchase and hold income producing properties. Our mortgage loans are structured to fit the needs and business plans of the borrowers. Revenue is generated primarily from the interest borrowers pay on our loans and, to a lesser extent, loan fee income generated on the origination and extension of loans.

At June 30, 2016, our current loan portfolio included loans ranging in size from $20,000 to $1.7 million. A majority of the loans have an original principal amount of less than $250,000, with the average loan size being $162,124 and a median loan size of $110,000. The table below gives a breakdown of our loan portfolio by loan size as of June 30, 2016:

   
Amount   Number of
Loans
  Aggregate
Principal Amount
Less than $100,000     89     $ 5,669,846  
$100,001 to $250,000     75       11,693,917  
$250,001 to $500,000     22       7,368,048  
$500,001 to $1,000,000     6       4,113,665  
Over $1,000,000     1     $ 1,550,000  
Total     193     $ 30,395,476  

Most of our loans were funded in full at their closing. However, in the case of a construction loan, where all or a portion of the loan proceeds are to be used to fund the costs of renovating or constructing improvements on the property, only a portion of the loan may be funded at closing. At June 30, 2016, our loan portfolio included construction loans under which we had a total funding commitment of approximately $5,140,000, the aggregate amount outstanding was approximately $4,189,000 and our unfunded commitment was approximately $951,000. Advances under construction loans are funded against requests supported by all required documentation (including lien waivers) as and when needed to pay contractors and other costs of construction.

In general, our strategy is to service and manage the loans we originate until they are paid. However, there have been a few instances where we have sold loans at par. Over 95% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of our loan portfolio is secured by properties located in Connecticut at June 30, 2016. The remaining principal balance of our loan portfolio is secured by properties located in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. We are considering expanding our geographic footprint to include Vermont and New Hampshire. Most of the properties we finance are residential investment, or commercial. However, in all instances the properties are held only for investment by the borrowers and may or may not generate cash flow.

The typical terms of our loans are as follows:

Principal amount.   Currently, we do not have any policy regarding minimum or maximum loan amounts. However, before we consummate this offering, we plan to adopt a policy that will limit the amount of any loan to 10% of our total loan portfolio after taking into account the loan in questions. At June 30, 2016, our loan portfolio included loans ranging in size from $20,000 to $1.7 million. Approximately, 85% of the loans had an original principal amount of $250,000 or less. Approximately 96% had an original principal amount of $500,000 or less. The average loan size was $162,124 and median loan size was $110,000.

Loan-to-Value Ratio.    Up to 65%. Under the Bankwell Credit Agreement the portion of an Eligible Note Receivable that can be financed depends on the loan-to-value ratio. The higher the loan-to-value ratio, the lower the financing percentage. If the loan-to-value ratio is 65%, the maximum amount of the loan that can be financed under the Bankwell Credit Line is 60% (subject to the overall cap of $250,000). If the loan-to-value ratio is less than 50%, up to 75% of the loan amount would be financeable.

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Interest rate.   A fixed rate between 9% to 12% per annum with a default rate of 18%.

Origination.   Ranges from 2% for loans of one year or less to 5% for three-year loans. In the case of three-year loans, a portion of the origination is credited back to the borrower in the event the loan balance is paid off early. In addition, if the term of the loan is extended, additional points are payable upon the extension.

Term.   Generally, one to three years with early termination in the event of a sale of the property. We may agree to extend the maturity date so long as the borrower is in compliance with all loan covenants, financial and non-financial, and the loan otherwise satisfies our then existing underwriting criteria. As a matter of policy, we will only extend the maturity for one year at a time, although there is no limit on the number of times the same loan can be extended. However, under the Bankwell Credit Agreement, a loan whose maturity date has been extended for more than three years from the original maturity date loses its status as an Eligible Note Receivable.

Prepayments.   Borrower may prepay the loan at any time beginning three months after the funding date, without premium or penalty.

Covenants.   To timely pay all taxes, insurance, assessments, and similar charges with respect to the property; to maintain hazard insurance; to maintain and protect the property.

Events of default.   Include: (i) failure to make payment when due; or (ii) breach of a covenant.

Payment terms.    Interest only is payable monthly in arrears. Principal is due in a “balloon” payment at the maturity date.

Escrow.   Generally, none required.

Reserves.   Generally, none required.

Security.   The loan is evidenced by a promissory note, which is secured by a first mortgage lien on real property owned by the borrower. In addition, each loan is guaranteed by the principals of the borrower, which guaranty may be collaterally secured by a pledge of the guarantor’s interest in the borrower or other real estate owned by the guarantor.

Fees and Expenses.    Borrowers pay an application fee, an inspection fee, wire fee, bounced check fee and, in the case of construction loans, check requisition fee for each draw from the loan. Finally, as is typical in real estate finance transactions, the borrower pays all expenses relating to obtaining the loan including the cost of a property appraisal, the cost of an environmental assessment report, if any, the cost of credit report and all title, recording fees and legal fees.

Operating Data

SCP’s lending activities increased each year since it commenced operations. We believe this trend will continue for the foreseeable future to grow given the stability of the real estate market in Connecticut and other states in which we make loans and our reputation among real estate investors as a reliable and reasonable financing source.

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Our Loan Portfolio

The following table highlights certain information regarding our real estate lending activities for the periods indicated:

       
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
  Year Ended
December 31,
     2016   2015   2015   2014
Loans originated   $ 9,108,259     $ 8,835,028     $ 19,412,438     $ 8,864,700  
Loans repaid   $ 6,353,148     $ 2,919,019     $ 5,812,116     $ 3,714,059  
Mortgage lending revenues   $ 1,973,691     $ 1,032,152     $ 2,786,724     $ 1,559,407  
Mortgage lending expenses   $ 421,340     $ 165,374     $ 479,821     $ 59,595  
Number of loans outstanding     193       148       185       107  
Principal amount of loans earning interest   $ 30,395,476     $ 20,765,028     $ 27,532,867     $ 14,849,019  
Average outstanding loan balance   $ 157,490     $ 140,304     $ 148,826     $ 138,775  
Weighted average contractual interest rate (2)     11.91 %       11.80 %       11.76 %       11.66 %  
Weighted average term to maturity (in months) (1)     20       24       23       22  

(1) Without giving effect to extension options.
(2) Does not include “points” paid in connection with origination of loans.

Historically, most of our loans are paid prior to their maturity dates. For example, of the loans that were repaid in full during the first half of 2016, 82% were repaid prior to maturity. Similarly, for 2015 and 2014 82% and 78%, respectively, of the loans repaid during those years were paid prior to maturity.

As a real estate finance company, we deal with a variety of default situations, including breaches of covenants, such as the obligation of the borrower to maintain adequate liability insurance on the mortgaged property, to pay the taxes on the property and to make timely payments to us. However, since its inception in December 2010, SCP acquired one property through a foreclosure action and eight other properties by “deed in lieu of foreclosure” —  i.e. , the borrower, in default of its obligations under the terms of the loan transferred title to the mortgaged property to SCP. The foreclosed property was sold for a small loss and one of the other properties was sold at breakeven. Two properties were sold for less than their respective carrying values but the borrowers’ obligations are guaranteed by a third party. SCP intends to assert its rights under the guaranty. The other five properties are being held for sale. Until mid-2015, we did not have an aggressive stance regarding delinquent payments. However, as our business and portfolio grew, we realized late payments were adversely impacting our performance. In addition, late payments were adversely impacting our ability to comply with the covenants under our agreement with Bankwell. As a result, we decided to be more aggressive in asserting our right to collect late payment fees. As a consequence, our revenue from late payment fees increased initially but the number of loans technically in arrears has decreased. Notwithstanding our aggressive stance, we realized that certain borrowers may have difficulty staying current on their obligations. Thus, if a borrower can demonstrate true “hardship”, we will not enforce our rights immediately and give the borrower an opportunity to cure its default. We do not have any specific definitive criteria as to what constitutes hardship or the period of time we will forbear. Some of the factors we will consider include the nature of the default ( i.e. , whether nonpayment of amounts due or breach of a covenant or agreement), the reason or reasons for the default, our cash flow requirements, the nature and length of our relationship with the borrower, whether or not the borrower has a history of non-payment and the loan-to-value ratio at the time of the default.

At June 30, 2016 the two largest borrowers, or groups of affiliated borrowers, accounted for 5.6% and 4.5% of SCP’s loan portfolio. At December 31, 2015 the same two borrowers accounted for 5.6% and 5.5% of SCP’s loan portfolio. The smaller of the two borrowers in both periods is JJV, SCP’s manager.

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The following table sets forth information regarding the types of properties securing our mortgage loans outstanding at June 30, 2016, December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the interest earned in each category: [To be updated]

     
  As of
June 30,
2016
  As of
December 31,
2015
  As of
December 31,
2014
Developer – Residential Mortgages   $ 21,258,849     $ 15,475,268     $ 10,482,448  
Developer – Commercial Mortgages     6,263,296       3,235,311       3,369,620  
Land Mortgages     2,337,813       1,687,449       649,951  
Mixed Use     535,518       367,000       347,000  
Total Mortgages Receivable   $ 30,395,476     $ 20,765,028     $ 14,849,019  

                 
  For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2016
  For the Year Ended
December 31, 2015
  For the Year Ended
December 31, 2014
     # of
Loans
  Interest
earned
  %   # of
Loans
  Interest
earned
  %   # of
Loans
  Interest
Earned
  %
Residential     151     $ 1,356,926       72.8       134     $ 1,794,785       72.4       76     $ 1,005,939       70.9  
Commercial     28       251,604       19.0       34       455,393       18.4       21       313,558       22.1  
Land Mortgages     9       81,555       6.0       12       160,795       6.5       7       66,684       4.7  
Mixed Use     5       45,115       2.2       5       66,903       2.7       3       32,633       2.3  
Total     193     $ 1,735,200       100.0       185     $ 2,477,876       100.0       107     $ 1,418,814       100.0  

At June 30, 2016, 184 loans, which accounted for 95.4% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of our loan portfolio, were secured by properties located in Connecticut; 6 loans, which accounted for 3.25% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of our loan portfolio, were secured by properties located in Massachusetts; 2 loans, which accounted for 1.05% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of our loan portfolio, were secured by properties located in New York; and 1 loan, which accounted for 0.3%, was secured by a property located in Rhode Island.

Our Origination Process and Underwriting Criteria

Our principal executive officers are experienced in hard money lending under various economic and market conditions. Our founders and co-chief executive officers, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, spend a significant portion of their time on business development as well as on underwriting, structuring and servicing each loan in our portfolio. A principal source of new transactions has been repeat business from existing and former customers and their referral of new business. We also receive leads for new business from banks, brokers, attorneys and web-based advertising.

When underwriting a loan, the primary focus of our analysis is the value of a property. Prior to making a final decision on a loan application we conduct extensive due diligence of the property as well as the borrower and its principals. In terms of the property, we only require a third party appraisal and a third party assessment report if the original principal amount of the loan exceeds $500,000. In all other cases, we rely on readily available market data such as tax assessments and recent sales. We also order title, lien and judgment searches. In most cases, we will also make an on-site visit to evaluate not only the property but the neighborhood in which it is located. Finally, we analyze and assess selected financial and operational data provided by the borrower relating to its operation and maintenance of the property. In terms of the borrower and its principals, we usually obtain third party credit reports from one of the major credit reporting services as well as selected personal financial information provided by the borrower and its principals. We analyze all this information carefully prior to making a final determination. Ultimately, our decision is based primarily on our conclusions regarding the value of the property, which takes into account factors such as the neighborhood in which the property is located, the current use and potential alternative use of the property, current and potential net income from the property, the local market, sales information of comparable properties, existing zoning regulations, the creditworthiness of the borrower and its principles and their experience in real estate ownership, construction, development and management. In conducting due diligence, we rely, in part, on third party professionals and experts including appraisers, engineers, title insurers and attorneys.

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Before a loan commitment is issued, the loan must be reviewed and approved by our co-chief executive officers. Our loan commitments are generally issued subject to receipt by us of title documentation and title report, in a form satisfactory to us, for the underlying property. We also require a personal guarantee from the principal or principals of the borrower.

Our Current Financing Strategies

We use a combination of equity capital and the proceeds of debt financing to fund our operations. We do not have any policy limiting the amount of debt we may incur. However, under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Agreement, we may not incur any additional indebtedness without Bankwell’s consent. Depending on various factors we may, in the future, decide to take on additional debt to expand our mortgage loan origination activities in order to increase the potential returns to our shareholders. Although we have no pre-set guidelines in terms of leverage ratio, the amount of leverage we will deploy will depend on our assessment of a variety of factors, which may include the liquidity of the real estate market in which most of our collateral is located, employment rates, general economic conditions, the cost of funds relative to the yield curve, the potential for losses and extension risk in our portfolio, the gap between the duration of our assets and liabilities, our opinion of the creditworthiness of our borrowers, the value of the collateral underlying our portfolio, and our outlook for interest rates and property values. At June 30, 2016, debt proceeds represented 21.8% of our total capital. However, in order to grow the business and satisfy the requirement to pay out 90% of net profits, we expect to increase our level of debt over time to approximately 50% of capital. We intend to use leverage for the sole purpose of financing our portfolio and not for the purpose of speculating on changes in interest rates.

At June 30, 2016, SCP’s members’ equity was $26.1 million, including approximately $2.8 million from JJV and the Villanos, directly and indirectly through their respective affiliates, taking into account initial and additional capital contributions. The principal purpose of this offering is to raise additional equity capital to expand our real estate lending business.

Another source of capital for us is our $15.0 million Bankwell Credit Line. Borrowings under the Bankwell Credit Line bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) a variable rate equal to the sum of the prime rate of interest as in effect from time to time (3.50% as of October 1, 2016) plus 3.0% or (ii) 6.25% per annum. The Bankwell Credit Line expires and the outstanding indebtedness thereunder will become due and payable in full on March 15, 2018. Assuming we are not then in default under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Agreement, we have the option to repay the outstanding balance, together with all accrued interest thereon in 36 equal monthly installments beginning April 15, 2019. The Bankwell Credit Line is secured by assignment of mortgages and other collateral and is jointly and severally guaranteed by JJV, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, our founders and co-chief executive officers. However, each of their respective liability under the guaranty is capped at $1 million.

The Bankwell Credit Line contains various covenants and restrictions that are typical for these kinds of credit facilities, including limiting the amount that we can borrow relative to the value of the underlying collateral, maintaining various financial ratios and limitations on the terms of loans we make to our customers. Under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Line, the amount outstanding at any one time may not exceed the lesser of (i) $15.0 million and (ii) our Eligible Note Receivables (as defined in the Bankwell Credit Agreement). In addition, each “Advance” is further limited to the lesser of (i) 50% – 75%, depending on the loan-to-value ratio, of the principal amount of the particular Eligible Note Receivable being funded and (ii) $250,000. As of June 30, 2016, we estimate that loans having an aggregate principal amount of $25.3 million, representing approximately 87% of SCP’s mortgage receivables, satisfied all of the eligibility requirements set forth in the Bankwell Agreement. As of June 30, 2016, the total amount outstanding under the Bankwell Credit Line was $5.0 million leaving us with sufficient borrowing capacity to draw the entire $15 million facility if we so choose. Given the nature of our business, we cannot assure you that we will always be able to borrow the maximum allowed under the terms of the Bankwell Credit Line.

Advances under the Bankwell Credit Line are required to be used exclusively to fund Eligible Notes Receiveable. The basic eligibility requirements for an advance are as follows:

the initial term of the note may not exceed 36 months and the original maturity date may not be extended for more than 36 months;

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the collateral securing the mortgage may not be the borrower’s primary residence;
mortgage loans to any single borrower or to multiple borrowers that have the same guarantor cannot exceed $450,000 in the aggregate;
minimum credit scores for the borrower and guarantors of loans in excess of $100,000 of (i) 625 for loans with a loan-to-value ratio of 50% or less or (ii) 660 for loans with a loan-to-value ratio of more than 50% but less than 75%;
maximum amount of any advance against an eligible note receivable is $250,000;
payments on the underlying loan may not be more than 60 days past due; and
receipt of certain information relating to the property including an appraisal (if the amount of the underlying loan exceeds $325,000) or other relevant data regarding value (if the amount of the underlying loan is less than $325,000).

In addition, the Bankwell Credit Line includes the following restrictions, limitations and prohibitions:

prohibiting any liens on any of the collateral securing the Bankwell Credit Line, which is essentially all of our assets;
prohibiting us from merging, consolidating or disposing of any asset;
prohibiting us from incurring any other indebtedness to a third party;
prohibiting us from forming or transacting business with any subsidiary or affiliate other than to make loans to our borrowers;
prohibiting us from allowing any litigation in excess of $50,000 against any of our assets unless we are fully insured against such loss;
prohibiting us from issuing or redeeming any equity interest, distributing any equity interest, pay any indebtedness owed to an equity holder, suffer any change in ownership that would result in JJV, Jeffrey Villano and John Villano collectively owning less than 50% of the membership interests in SCP;
prohibiting us from declaring or paying any dividends except in certain limited circumstances;
prohibiting us from purchasing any securities issued by or otherwise invest in any public or private entity;
suffer any change in our executive management; and
change the form or nature of SCP’s or JJV’s ownership structure

Loan covenants include the following:

punctually pay amounts due;
pay on demand any charges customarily incurred or levied by Bankwell;
pay any and all taxes, assessments or other charges assessed against us or any of our assets;
pay all insurance premiums;
maintain our principal deposit and disbursement accounts with Bankwell;
perfect Bankwell’s lien on the assets;
comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of any governmental authority; or
change the nature of our business.

Finally, we must comply with the following financial covenants:

continuously maintain a fixed charge ratio of at least 1.35:1.00 at the end of each fiscal year;

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continuously maintain a tangible net worth of not less than $15 million at the end of each fiscal quarter;
John Villano’s minimal capital investment in SCP may not be less than $195,000;
Jeffrey Villano’s minimal capital investment in SCP, directly and indirectly through affiliates, may not be less than $1,750,000 and
JJV’s minimal capital investment in SCP may not be less than $575,000.

The following table shows our sources of capital, including our financing arrangements, and our loan portfolio as of June 30, 2016:

 
Sources of Capital:
Debt:
        
Line of credit   $ 7,275,000  
Total debt   $ 7,275,000  
Capital (equity)     26,055,292  
Total sources of capital   $ 33,330,092  
Assets:
        
Mortgages receivable   $ 30,395,476  
Other assets     3,696,569  
Total assets   $ 34,092,045  

Management

Since its inception, all of SCP’s operations have been managed by JJV for which it paid management fees. SCP had no employees and no offices. All of its corporate documents and records were maintained by JJV in its offices. JJV did not have any employees either. All of JJV’s activities were conducted by Jeffrey Villano and John Villano in their capacity as the managers of JJV. Simultaneously, they also engaged in other business activities. John Villano had his own private accounting practice and Jeffrey Villano owned and managed other properties that had no relationship to SCP.

The management fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP are set forth in the SCP operating agreement and include the following:

(a) 75% of all origination fees and 100% of wire and credit fees paid by a borrower in connection with originating and funding a loan;
(b) if SCP purchases an existing loan from a third party, a fee comparable to the origination fee that SCP would have charged if it had originated such loan;
(c) a listing fee in connection with the sale of any property that SCP acquires pursuant to a foreclosure action;
(d) a monthly servicing fee equal to the sum of (i) one-twelfth of 1% of the total assets of SCP and (ii) one-twelfth of 0.5% to one percent of the total amount of SCP’s loan portfolio; and
(e) reimbursement of any fees paid in connection with the preparation of all tax returns and audit reports on behalf of SCP.

In addition, JJV has the right to sell any mortgages it holds to SCP at 10% over the principal amount thereof. JJV has never exercised this right.

Once the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement are consummated and SCP becomes our wholly-owned subsidiary, JJV will no longer function as the manager of SCP. Rather John Villano and Jeffrey Villano will become our full-time employees and senior executive officers and will continue to manage all of SCP’s activities in that capacity. They have agreed to devote 100% of their time and effort to our business and will discontinue all other business activities, whether or not they conflict with our business.

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Competition

The real estate finance market in Connecticut is highly competitive. Our competitors include traditional lending institutions such as regional and local banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions and other financial institutions as well as other market participants such as specialty finance companies, REITs, investment banks, insurance companies, hedge funds, private equity funds, family offices and high net worth individuals. In addition, we estimate that, in addition to us, there are approximately five “hard money” lenders of significant size serving the Connecticut real estate market. Many of these competitors enjoy competitive advantages over us, including greater name recognition, established lending relationships with customers, financial resources, and access to capital.

Notwithstanding the intense competition and some of our competitive disadvantages, we believe we have carved a niche for ourselves among small real estate developers, owners and contractors throughout Connecticut and in parts of Massachusetts and New York because we are relatively well-capitalized, our ability to structure each loan to suit the needs of each individual borrower and our ability to act quickly. In addition, we believe we have developed a reputation among these borrowers as offering reasonable terms and providing outstanding customer service. We believe our future success will depend on our ability to maintain and capitalize on our existing relationships with borrowers and brokers and to expand our borrower base by continuing to offer attractive loan products, remain competitive in pricing and terms, and provide superior service.

Sales and Marketing

We do not engage any third parties for sales and marketing. Rather, we rely on our senior executive officers to generate lending opportunities as well as referrals from existing or former borrowers, brokers, and bankers and web-based advertising. A principal source of new transactions has been repeat business from prior customers and their referral of new leads.

Intellectual Property

Our business does not depend on exploiting or leveraging any intellectual property rights. To the extent we own any rights to intellectual property, we rely on a combination of federal, state and common law trademarks, service marks and trade names, copyrights and trade secret protection. We have not registered any trademarks, trade names, service marks or copyrights in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Employees

Currently our only employees are Jeffrey Villano and John Villano. However, until this offering is consummated the scope of their duties is limited to various administrative and clerical tasks, some of which relate to this offering. Once this offering is consummated, they will become our full time employees and devote all of their time and efforts to managing and operating our business.

Regulation

Our operations are subject, in certain instances, to supervision and regulation by state and federal governmental authorities and may be subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing various requirements and restrictions. In addition, we may rely on exemptions from various requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act and ERISA. These exemptions are sometimes highly complex and may in certain circumstances depend on compliance by third-parties who we do not control.

Regulatory Reform

The Dodd-Frank Act, which went into effect on July 21, 2010, is intended to make significant structural reforms to the financial services industry. For example, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, various federal agencies have promulgated, or are in the process of promulgating, regulations with respect to various issues that may affect us. Certain regulations have already been adopted and others remain under consideration by various governmental agencies, in some cases past the deadlines set in the Dodd-Frank Act for adoption. At the present time, we do not believe any regulations adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act apply to us. However, it is possible that regulations that will be adopted in the future will apply to us or that existing regulations will apply to us as our business evolves.

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Regulation of Commercial Real Estate Lending Activities

Although most states do not regulate commercial finance, certain states impose limitations on interest rates and other charges and on certain collection practices and creditor remedies, and require licensing of lenders and financiers and adequate disclosure of certain contract terms. We also are required to comply with certain provisions of, among other statutes and regulations, certain provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act that are applicable to commercial loans, The USA PATRIOT Act, regulations promulgated by the Office of Foreign Asset Control and federal and state securities laws and regulations.

Investment Company Act Exemption

Although we reserve the right to modify our business methods at any time, we are not currently required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. However, we cannot assure you that our business strategy will not evolve over time in a manner that could subject us to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act.

Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Investment Company Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of the issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. Government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, which we refer to as the 40% test. Real estate mortgages are excluded from the term “investment securities.”

We rely on the exception set forth in Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act which excludes from the definition of investment company “[a]ny person who is not engaged in the business of issuing redeemable securities, face-amount certificates of the installment type or periodic payment plan certificates, and who is primarily engaged in one or more of the following businesses... (C) purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.” The SEC generally requires that, for the exception provided by Section 3(c)(5)(C) to be available, at least 55% of an entity’s assets be comprised of mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate, also known as “qualifying interests,” and at least another 25% of the entity’s assets must be comprised of additional qualifying interests or real estate-type interests (with no more than 20% of the entity’s assets comprised of miscellaneous assets). At the present time, we qualify for the exemption under this section and our current intention is to continue to focus on originating short term loans secured by first mortgages on real property. However, if, in the future, we do acquire non-real estate assets without the acquisition of substantial real estate assets, we may qualify as an “investment company” and be required to register as such under the Investment Company Act, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

If we were required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we would become subject to substantial regulation with respect to our capital structure (including our ability to use leverage), management, operations, transactions with affiliated persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act), portfolio composition, including restrictions with respect to diversification and industry concentration, and other matters.

Qualification for exclusion from the definition of an investment company under the Investment Company Act will limit our ability to make certain investments. In addition, complying with the tests for such exclusion could restrict the time at which we can acquire and sell assets.

Real Property

SCP’s business is conducted by JJV from JJV’s offices. We are in the process of trying to locate office lease space for our business. If we cannot find and occupy appropriate office space before this offering is consummated, we will enter into a temporary occupancy agreement with Union News of New Haven, Inc., the owner of the building located at 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut, to use the space that is currently occupied by JJV. The monthly fee to occupy that space will be $1,500 and we will have the right to terminate at any time with no notice. Union News of New Haven is 20%-owned by Jeffrey Villano and 80%-owned by Shirley Villano, his mother.

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings not in the ordinary course of business.

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CORPORATE STRUCTURE — REIT STATUS

Until the offering contemplated by this prospectus, we operated as a Connecticut limited liability company under the name Sachem Capital Partners, LLC. For federal and state income tax purposes, we were taxed as a partnership. Accordingly, we paid no federal or state income taxes at the entity level. Rather each member paid income taxes on his, her or its pro rata share of our taxable income. In addition, we distributed most of our net profits to our members.

Prior to the date of this prospectus, Sachem Capital and SCP have entered into an Exchange Agreement, pursuant to which SCP will transfer all of its assets and liabilities to Sachem Capital in exchange for 6,283,273 common shares of Sachem Capital and the assumption of SCP’s obligations under the Bankwell Credit Line. Immediately thereafter, SCP will distribute those shares to its members in full liquidation of their membership interests in SCP, pro rata in accordance with the members’ positive capital account balances. For accounting purposes, the consummation of the exchange transaction will be treated as a recapitalization of SCP.

The pre-offering capitalization of Sachem Capital was based on discussions with the representative and took into account (i) SCP’s historical financial performance, including revenues, net profits, cash flow from operations and distributions to members, (ii) its prospects (taking into account, among other things, any anticipated changes as a result of the change in SCP’s status from a limited liability company to a regular C corporation and its operation as a REIT for income tax purposes) and (iii) the market value of comparable public companies. The parties agreed to value Sachem Capital at an amount equal to approximately 164% of SCP’s member equity at June 30, 2016, which was then divided by the proposed initial public offering price to arrive at the pre-offering capitalization of Sachem Capital. A portion of these shares were allocated to the founders of Sachem Capital and the balance to the members of SCP. The result is that each member of SCP is expected to receive Sachem Capital common shares having a value of approximately $1.206 for each $1.00 in its capital account.

JJV, whose members include various members of the Villano family, in the liquidation of SCP will receive         common shares, or approximately     % of the common shares to be issued in the exchange. In addition, the Villano brothers, individually and through their affiliates, will receive an additional           common shares, or     % of the common shares issued in the exchange. In addition, Jeffrey Villano and John Villano, were each issued 1,085,000 common shares of Sachem Capital upon its formation. Accordingly, after giving effect to the exchange but immediately prior to the offering, in total, Jeffrey and John Villano, collectively, will beneficially own           common shares (or    %) of Sachem Capital’s common shares.

Following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement and the completion of this offering, we believe that we will meet all of the requirements for qualification as a REIT. Accordingly, we intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT beginning as soon as possible after this offering is consummated. Our qualification as a REIT, and our ability to maintain our status as a REIT, will depend on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual investment and operating results, various complex requirements under the Code, relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets and our compliance with the distribution and ownership requirements that apply to REITs.

So long as we qualify and operate as a REIT, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our net taxable income that is distributed to our shareholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year or fail to operate in compliance with the rules that apply to REIT (and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions), we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and will be precluded from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year during which our REIT election was effectively terminated. Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may incur U.S. federal, state and local income and/or excise taxes under certain circumstances.

In order to comply with certain REIT qualification requirements, we are required to distribute all of our non-REIT accumulated earnings and profits, before the end of our first REIT taxable year. We do not believe that we. have any non-REIT earnings and profits.

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MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

As of the date of this prospectus, our executive officers and directors and their respective ages as of the date of this prospectus are as follows:

   
Name   Age   Position
John L. Villano   55   Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Jeffrey C. Villano   50   President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Director
Leslie Bernhard (1)(2)   71   Director-Nominee
Arthur Goldberg (1)(3)   77   Director-Nominee
Brian Prinz (4)   64   Director-Nominee

(1) Member of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.
(2) Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
(3) Chairman of the Audit Committee.
(4) Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Under our bylaws, each director holds office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and his successor is duly elected and qualified and officers are elected to serve subject to the discretion of the board of directors.

Set forth below is a brief description of the background and business experience of our executive officers and directors:

John L. Villano , is one of our co-founders and our Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. He is also a founder of SCP and a founder, member and manager of JJV, the manager of SCP since their inception in December 2010. Mr. Villano is a certified public accountant and has also been engaged in the private practice of accounting and auditing for almost 30 years. Upon the effective date of this offering, he will become our full time employee. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects of our business operations, including loan origination and servicing, investor relations, brand development and business development. He is also responsible for all of our accounting and financial matters. Mr. Villano is the brother of our other co-founder and co-chief executive officer, Jeffrey C. Villano. Mr. Villano holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island in 1982. We believe that Mr. Villano’s experience in managing our business for the last 5½ years and his professional background as a certified public accountant make him an important part of our management team and make him a worthy candidate to serve on our board of directors.

Jeffrey C. Villano , is one of our co-founders and our Co-Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer. He is also a founder of SCP and a founder, member and manager of JJV, the manager of SCP since their inception in December 2010. Upon the effective date of this offering, he will become our full time employee. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects of our business operations, including loan origination and servicing, investor relations, brand development and business development. Mr. Villano is the brother of our other co-founder and co-chief executive officer, John L. Villano. Mr. Villano received an Associate’s Degree from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1985. We believe that Mr. Villano’s knowledge of the Connecticut real estate market and his experience in underwriting, structuring and managing real estate loans in general and his experience managing our business over the last 5½ years make him well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Leslie Bernhard will become a member of our board of directors as of the date of this prospectus. She has served as the non-executive chairman of the board of Milestone Scientific Inc. (NYSE: MLSS), a developer and manufacturer of medical and dental devices, since October 2009, and an independent director of Milestone since May 2003. She has also served as an independent director of Universal Power Group, Inc. (OTCMarkets: UPGI), a global supplier of power solutions, since 2007. In 1986 she co-founded AdStar, Inc., an electronic ad intake service to the newspaper industry, and served as its president, chief executive officer

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and executive director until 2012. Ms. Bernhard holds a BS Degree in Education from St. John’s University. We believe that Ms. Bernhard’s experience as an entrepreneur and her service as a director of other public corporations will enable her to make an important contribution to our board of directors.

Arthur Goldberg will become a member of our board of directors as of the date of this prospectus. He has been a private accounting and business consultant since April 2012. From March 2011 through June 2015 he served as a director of Sport Haley Holdings, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of sportswear and furniture. From January 2008 through March 2013, he served as a member of the board of directors of SED International Holdings, Inc. (OTC: SEDN), a distributor of consumer electronics. From January 2008 through March 2012, he served as the chief financial officer of Clear Skies Solar, Inc., an installer of solar panels. Mr. Goldberg has held senior executive positions, including chief financial officer and chief operating officer, and served as a director at a number of public companies. From January 2008 through June 2008, he served as the chief financial officer of Milestone Scientific, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MLSS), a medical device company. From June 1999 through April 2005, Mr. Goldberg was a partner with Tatum CFO Partners, LLP which provided interim CFO staffing services for public and private companies. From June 1996 through mid-1998 he served in various capacities, including vice chairman, chief financial officer and chief operating officer, at Complete Management, Inc. (AMEX: CMI; NYSE: CMI)), a physician practice management company. Mr. Goldberg is a certified public accountant and holds a B.B.A. degree from the City College of New York, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and J.D. and LL.M. degrees from the New York University School of Law. Mr. Goldberg was selected as a director because of his experience as the senior executive, operations and financial officer of a number of public companies and because of his background in law and accounting. We believe that his background and experience will provide our board or directors with a perspective on corporate finance matters. Given his financial experience, the board of directors has also determined that Mr. Goldberg qualifies as the Audit Committee financial expert, pursuant to Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Brian Prinz will become a member of our board of directors as of the date of this prospectus. Since 1976, Mr. Prinz has been employed by Current, Inc., a leading manufacturer of laminated products including sheeting, tubes, rods, spacers and standoffs, as well as electrical grade laminates, a variety of carbon fiber products and other industrial products, which are used in various industries including construction, recreation, energy exploration and defense. He began his career at Current initially as a foreman, then as a production manager, then as vice president of sales and, since 2011, as President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Prinz graduated from Bryant College with B.A. in 1976. We believe that his background and experience make him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Director Independence

The members of our board of directors are John L. Villano, Jeffrey C. Villano, Leslie Bernhard, Arthur Goldberg and Brian Prinz. The board of directors has determined, in accordance with Nasdaq’s Stock Market Rules, that: (i) Ms. Bernhard and Messrs. Goldberg and Prinz are independent and represent a majority of its members; (ii) Ms. Bernhard and Messrs. Goldberg and Prinz, as the members of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee, are independent for such purposes. In determining director independence, our board of directors applies the independence standards set by Nasdaq. In applying these standards, our board of directors considers all transactions with the independent directors and the impact of such transactions, if any, on any of the independent directors’ ability to continue to serve on our board of directors.

Committees of the Board of Directors

We have three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each committee is made up entirely of independent directors as defined under Nasdaq’s Stock Market Rules; to wit, Mr. Goldberg serves as chairman of the Audit Committee and also qualifies as the “audit committee financial expert.”      serves as the chairman of the Compensation Committee.      serves as the chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Audit Committee.   The Audit Committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes, internal systems of accounting and financial controls, relationships with auditors and audits of financial statements. Specifically, the Audit Committee’s responsibilities include the following:

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selecting, hiring and terminating our independent auditors;
evaluating the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditors;
approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors;
reviewing the design, implementation and adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls and critical policies;
overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to our financial statements and other accounting matters;
with management and our independent auditors, reviewing any earnings announcements and other public announcements regarding our results of operations; and
preparing the report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement.

The members of the Audit Committee are Arthur Goldberg, who serves as chairman, Leslie Bernhard and     . The board of directors has determined that Arthur Goldberg is qualified as an Audit Committee financial expert pursuant to Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Each Audit Committee member is independent, as that term is defined in Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act and their relevant experience is more fully described above.

Compensation Committee.   The Compensation Committee assists the Board in determining the compensation of our officers and directors. Specific responsibilities include the following:

approving the compensation and benefits of our executive officers;
reviewing the performance objectives and actual performance of our officers; and
administering our stock option and other equity and incentive compensation plans.

The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of directors who satisfy the standards of independence applicable to compensation committee members established under 162(m) of the Code and Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.   The corporate governance and nominating committee assists the board by identifying and recommending individuals qualified to become members of the board of directors. Specific responsibilities include the following:

evaluating the composition, size and governance of our Board and its committees and making recommendations regarding future planning and the appointment of directors to our committees;
establishing a policy for considering shareholder nominees to our Board;
reviewing our corporate governance principles and making recommendations to the Board regarding possible changes; and
reviewing and monitoring compliance with our code of ethics and insider trading policy.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Information

We have never paid any compensation to our executive officers. However, since its inception SCP has paid management fees to JJV, a limited liability company founded and controlled by John L. Villano and Jeffrey C. Villano. Total amounts paid or accrued to JJV for 2016 (through June 30), 2015 and 2014 in its capacity as the manager of SCP were $152,517, $210,407 and $75,895, respectively. In 2014, JJV waived the portion of the management fee based on our total assets to which it would otherwise have been entitled. At June 30, 2016, the amount due to JJV was $350,905, which will be paid by SCP from its working capital immediately before this offering and the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement are consummated. These amounts do not include loan origination fees that borrowers paid directly to JJV. After this offering is consummated, all loan origination fees will be paid directly to us. Origination fees paid to JJV in the six month ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $244,152 and $299,779, respectively, and in 2015 and 2014 were $541,600 and $305,600, respectively.

The management fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP are set forth in the SCP operating agreement and include the following:

(a) 75% of loan origination fees and 100% of credit and wire fees paid by a borrower in connection with originating and funding a loan;
(b) if SCP purchases an existing loan from a third party, a fee comparable to the origination fee that SCP would have charged if it had originated such loan;
(c) a listing fee in connection with the sale of any property that SCP acquires pursuant to a foreclosure action;
(d) a monthly servicing fee equal to the sum of (i) one-twelfth of 1% of the total assets of SCP and (ii) one-twelfth of 0.5% to one percent of the total amount of SCP’s loan portfolio; and
(e) reimbursement of any fees paid in connection with the preparation of all tax returns and audit reports on behalf of SCP.

In addition, JJV has the right to sell any mortgages it holds to SCP at 10% over the principal amount thereof. JJV has never exercised this right.

Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, which should occur immediately before the date of this prospectus, JJV will no longer be entitled to receive any of the fees described above. However, any accrued but unpaid management fees as of the date of this prospectus will be paid to JJV before the time of the exchange.

Employment Agreements

In contemplation of this offering, we have entered into employment agreements with each of John Villano and Jeffrey Villano, which will take effect on the effective date of this offering. The material terms of the employment agreements are as follows:

John Villano will serve as our co-chief executive officer, chief financial officer and secretary and Jeffrey Villano will serve as our co-chief executive officer, president and treasurer.
The term of employment is five years commencing on the date of this prospectus unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The termination date will be extended one year on each anniversary date of the agreement unless either party to the agreement provides written notice at least 180 days before the next anniversary date that it is electing not to renew the agreement, in which case the agreement will terminate at the end of the fourth year from the next anniversary date.
Base compensation of $260,000 per annum which amount may be increased in the discretion of the compensation committee of the board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion.

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Incentive compensation in such amount as shall be determined by the compensation committee of the board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion, based on our achievement of the financial performance goals set by the Board.
Incentive compensation for certain capital transactions in such amount as shall be determined by the compensation committee of the board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion.
The right to participate in all retirement, pension, deferred compensation, insurance and other benefit plans adopted and maintained by us for the benefit of employees and be entitled to additional compensation in an amount equal to the cost of any such benefit plan or program if he chooses not to participate.
Indemnification to the full extent permitted by law against and for any claims, liabilities, losses, expenses and costs incurred that relate to any acts or omission taken in his capacity as an officer or director.
We have the right to terminate the employment agreement at any time with or without cause and for death or disability (as defined in the employment agreement). See below for the payments due upon a termination.
Two-year non-competition provision if we terminate the employment agreement for cause.
In the event any payment to the employee is subject to an excise tax under the Code, we will pay the employee an additional amount equal to the amount of the excise tax and any other taxes (whether in the nature of excise taxes or income taxes) due with respect to such payment.

Termination and Change of Control Arrangement

Each employment agreement provides that we may terminate the executive’s employment at any time with or without cause. It also provides that employment will terminate upon the death or disability of the executive. If we terminate the executive’s employment for cause, we will only be liable for his base salary and benefits through the date of termination. In addition, the executive will not forfeit any rights to payments, options or benefits that have vested or have been earned or to which he is entitled as of the date of termination. If we terminate the executive’s employment without cause or the agreement terminates because of the death or disability of the executive or the executive terminates for Good Reason (as defined in the employment agreement), the executive will also entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to 48 times his monthly salary on the date of termination; (ii) any deferred compensation or accrued vacation pay; (iii) continuation for a 12-month period after termination of health and welfare and long-term disability benefits; and (iv) a pro rata share of any incentive compensation and any other compensation or benefits to which he would have been entitled had he not been wrongfully terminated.

Good Reason includes a “change in control” with respect to us. A “change in control” means (1) if we merge into another corporation and, as a result of such merger, our shareholders immediately prior to such merger own less than 50% of the surviving corporation; (2) we sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; (3) the acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of our common shares or any other securities having voting rights that we may issue in the future), rights to acquire our voting securities (including, without limitation, securities that are convertible into voting securities and rights, options warrants and other agreements or arrangements to acquire such voting securities) by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly, in such amount or amounts as would permit such person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly to elect a majority of the members of our board of directors, as then constituted; or (4) the acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting securities and rights to acquire voting securities having voting power equal to 40% percent or more of the combined voting power of our then outstanding voting securities by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly unless such acquisition is expressly approved by resolution of our board of directors passed upon affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the board of directors and adopted at a meeting of the board of directors held not later than the date of the next regularly scheduled or special meeting held following the date we obtain actual knowledge of such acquisition (which approval may be limited in purpose and effect solely to affecting the rights of the executive under his employment agreement).

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Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any transaction that involves a mere change in identity form or place of organization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, or a transaction of similar effect, will not constitute a “change in control.”

Equity Compensation Plan Information

On October 27, 2016 we adopted the 2016 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to align the interests of our officers, other employees, advisors and consultants or any subsidiary, if any, with those of our shareholders to afford an incentive to such officers, employees, consultants and advisors to continue as such, to increase their efforts on our behalf and to promote the success of our business. The basis of participation in the Plan is upon discretionary grants of awards by the board of directors. The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. The maximum number of common shares reserved for the grant of awards under the Plan is 1,500,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 of the Plan. As of the date of this prospectus, approximately     persons will be eligible to participate in the Plan, including two executive officers and five directors (of whom three are Independent Directors).

Types and Terms of Awards

Awards under the Plan may take the form of stock options (either incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options) or restricted shares. Subject to restrictions that are set forth in the Plan, the Compensation Committee will have complete and absolute authority to set the terms, conditions and provisions of each award, including the size of the award, the exercise or base price, the vesting and exercisability schedule (including provisions regarding acceleration of vesting and exercisability) and termination and forfeiture provisions.

The Compensation Committee shall be subject to the following specific restrictions regarding the types and terms of awards:

The exercise price for a stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant.
No award may be granted after the expiration of the Plan (more than ten years after the Plan adoption date).

No stock option can be “repriced” without the consent of the shareholders and of the option holder if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price per share.

Amendment and Termination of the Plan

The Plan expires on the tenth anniversary of the date of its adoption by the board of directors. Prior to the expiration date, the board of directors may at any time, and from time to time, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part or amend it from time to time provided, however, that unless otherwise determined by the board of directors, an amendment that requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with Section 162(m) or any other law, regulation or stock exchange requirement shall not be effective unless approved by the requisite vote of shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment to or termination of the Plan shall affect adversely any of the rights of any grantee under any outstanding award granted under the Plan without such grantee's consent.

Exercise Price of an option granted under the Plan

The exercise price of an option granted under the Plan may be no less than the fair market value of a common share on the date of grant, unless, with respect to nonqualified stock options that are not intended as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code from time to time, otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee. However, incentive stock options granted to a ten percent shareholder must be priced at no less than 110% of the fair market value of our common shares on the date of grant and their term may not exceed five years. All options granted under the Plan are for a term of no longer than ten years unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also determines the exercise schedule of each option grant.

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Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a brief summary of the effect of federal income taxation upon the recipients and us with respect to the shares under the Plan and does not purport to be complete.

Non-qualified Stock Options.   The grant of non-qualified stock options will have no immediate tax consequences to us or the grantee. The exercise of a non-qualified stock option will require a grantee to include in his gross income the amount by which the fair market value of the acquired shares on the exercise date (or the date on which any substantial risk of forfeiture lapses) exceeds the option price. Upon a subsequent sale or taxable exchange of the shares acquired upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option, a grantee will recognize long or short-term capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the tax basis of such shares. We will be entitled (provided applicable withholding requirements are met) to a deduction for Federal income tax purposes at the same time and in the same amount as the grantee is in receipt of income in connection with the exercise of a non-qualified stock option.

Incentive Stock Options.   The grant of an incentive stock option will have no immediate tax consequences to us or our employee. If the employee exercises an incentive stock option and does not dispose of the acquired shares within two years after the grant of the incentive stock option nor within one year after the date of the transfer of such shares to him (a “disqualifying disposition”), he will realize no compensation income and any gain or loss that he realizes on a subsequent disposition of such shares will be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss. For purposes of calculating the employee’s alternative minimum taxable income, however, the option will be taxed as if it were a non-qualified stock option.

Restricted Shares.   Generally, unless the participant elects, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code to recognize income in the taxable year in which restricted shares have been awarded, the participant is required to recognize income for federal income tax purposes in the first taxable year during which the participant’s rights over the restricted shares are transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier. At such time, we will be entitled (provided applicable withholding requirements are met) to a deduction for Federal income tax purposes except to the extent that such participant’s total compensation for the taxable year exceeds one million dollars, in which case such deduction may be limited by Section 162(m) of the Code unless any such grant of restricted shares is made pursuant to a performance-based benchmark established by the Compensation Committee.

Compensation of Directors

Each non-employee director will be granted, upon effectiveness of our initial public offering, five-year options to purchase      common shares at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of a common share on the date of grant. These options will vest over three years in equal installments on the anniversary date of the date of grant. Thereafter, each non-employee director will receive cash compensation of $     per year, which will be paid on a quarterly basis. John L. Villano and Jeffrey C. Villano, who are executive officers as well as directors, will not receive compensation in connection with their positions on our board of directors.

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

The following table, together with the accompanying footnotes, sets forth information, as of the date of this prospectus regarding the beneficial ownership of our common shares by each of our executive officers, each member of our board of directors, by all persons known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common shares, each executive officer, each director, and all of our directors and officers as a group:

     
Name of Beneficial Owner (1)   Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (2)   Percentage of Class (3)
  Prior to Offering   After
Offering
Executive Officers and Directors:
                          
John L. Villano (4)                 
Jeffrey C. Villano (5)                 
Leslie Bernhard                     
Arthur Goldberg                     
Brian Prinz                     
All officers and directors as a group (5 persons) (6)                 

* Less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise provided, the address of each of the individuals above is c/o Sachem Capital Corp., 23 Laurel Road, Branford, CT 06405.
(2) A person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such person within 60 days from the date of this prospectus upon the exercise of options and warrants or conversion of convertible securities. Each beneficial owner’s percentage ownership is determined by assuming that options, warrants and convertible securities that are held by such person (but not held by any other person) and that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days from the date of this prospectus have been exercised or converted. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property and similar laws, each of the persons named has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned.
(3) All percentages are determined based on 8,533,237 common shares outstanding immediately prior to this offering and common shares outstanding immediately after this offering.
(4) Includes      common shares owned by his wife and      common shares owned by JJV, an entity owned and managed by John and Jeffrey Villano.
(5) Includes      and      common shares owned by Ultimate Brands Inc. and Union News of New Haven, Inc., respectively, each a corporation of which he is the founder and chief executive officer and over which he has full voting and dispositive control and      common shares owned by his minor daughter.
(6) Includes an aggregate of      common shares underlying options beneficially owned by officers and directors as a group.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, our business was conducted by SCP. JJV is the manager and a member of SCP. The members of JJV are John Villano, Jeffrey Villano and their respective affiliates. John Villano and Jeffrey Villano are the mangers of JJV. They are also our co-chief executive officers and members of our board of directors. Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement JJV will no longer be entitled to receive any management fees from SCP and John Villano and Jeffrey Villano will become our full-time employees. In addition, upon consummation of this offering, they will each own more than 10% of our issued and outstanding common shares.

Prior to this offering SCP had no employees. Rather, JJV, in its capacity as the manager of SCP, provided management and administrative services to SCP for which it received management fees. In addition, JJV also paid certain expenses on behalf of SCP for which it was entitled to reimbursement. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the amounts paid or accrued to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP totaled $152,517, $210,407 and $75,895, respectively. In addition, at June 30, 2016, the amount due to JJV was $350,905, of which $307,197 represents reimbursement for SCP expenses paid by JJV and $43,708 represents fees owed to JJV. The balance due to JJV will be paid immediately prior to this offering. These amounts do not include loan origination fees that borrowers paid directly to JJV. After this offering is consummated, all loan origination fees will be paid directly to us. Origination fees paid to JJV in the six month ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $244,152 and $299,779, respectively, and in 2015 and 2014 were $541,600 and $305,600, respectively.

All of SCP’s records are kept at and all of its operations are conducted from JJV’s offices, which are located in a building owned by Union News of New Haven, Inc. Jeffrey Villano is the chief executive officer of Union News and owns 20% of its outstanding stock. The other 80% is owned by his and John Villano’s mother, Shirley Villano. We are in the process of looking for office space from which to conduct our operations. If we cannot find suitable space or sign a lease for suitable space before this offering, we will enter into an occupancy agreement with United Union News to occupy the space currently occupied by JJV. The occupancy fee will be $1,500 per month, which we believe is the fair market rental value of that space. In addition, we will have the right to terminate the occupancy agreement at any time without notice.

SCP’s loan portfolio includes three loans made to JJV. The principal balance of the loans to JJV at June 30 2016, December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $1,376,522, $1,515,000 and $757,000, respectively. Interest paid on these loans during each of those periods was $81,224, $108,932 and $46,944, respectively. These loans were made in connection with JJV’s purchase of real property from third parties who, for various reasons, did not meet SCP’s loan criteria. We believe that the terms of these loans are no less beneficial to SCP than they would have been if SCP made the loans to unrelated third parties and are all properly documented.

We intend to adopt a policy prior to the consummation of this offering that will prohibit any transaction between us and a related party unless the terms of that transaction are no less favorable to us than if we had entered into the same transaction with an unrelated party and the transaction is approved by a majority of our board of directors, which majority must include a majority of the independent directors.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SHARES

The following is a description of the material terms of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws. We refer you to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Authorized Capitalization

Our authorized capital stock consists of 55,000,000 common shares, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 preferred shares, par value $.001 per share. Immediately prior to this offering, we will have 8,533,237 common shares and no preferred shares issued and outstanding. Immediately after this offering is consummated we will have      common shares and no preferred shares issued and outstanding. If the representative exercises the over-allotment option in full, the number of common shares issued and outstanding immediately after this offering will be     .

Common shares

Subject to preferences that may apply to preferred shares outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding common shares are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the board of directors may from time to time determine. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each common shares held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Directors are elected by plurality vote. Therefore, the holders of a majority of the outstanding common shares voted can elect all of the directors then standing for election. Holders of common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights and are not subject to conversion or, as more fully described below in “Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” except in the case of a prohibited transfer, redemption. If we are liquidated or dissolved or our business is otherwise wound up, the holders of common shares would be entitled to share ratably in the distribution of all of our assets remaining available for distribution after satisfaction of all our liabilities and the payment of the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Each outstanding common share is, and all common shares outstanding upon completion of this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Shares

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:

the designation of the series;
the number of shares of the series which our board may, except where otherwise provided in the preferred shares designation, increase or decrease, but not below the number of shares then outstanding;
whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and the dividend rate of the series;
the dates at which dividends, if any, will be payable;
the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;
the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;
the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding — up of the affairs of our company, or upon any distribution of our assets;
whether the shares of the series will be convertible into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of our company or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of the other class or series or other security, the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, any rate adjustments, the date or dates as of which the shares will be convertible and all other terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made;
the preferences and special rights, if any, of the series and the qualifications and restrictions, if any, of the series;

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the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series; and
such other rights, powers and preferences with respect to the series as our board of directors may deem advisable.

Authorized but Unissued Shares of Capital Stock

New York law does not require shareholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, which would apply for so long as our common shares are listed on one of the Nasdaq exchanges, require shareholder approval of certain issuances (other than a public offering) equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding common shares, as well as for certain issuances of shares of capital stock in compensatory transactions. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions. One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common shares may be to enable our board of directors to sell common shares to persons friendly to current management, for such consideration, in form and amount, as is acceptable to the board, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive shareholders of opportunities to sell their common shares at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

In order for us to qualify to be taxed as a REIT under the Code, our capital shares must be owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to qualify to be taxed as a REIT has been made). Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our capital stock (after taking into account options to acquire shares of capital stock) may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as private foundations) during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made). To qualify to be taxed as a REIT, we must satisfy other requirements as well.

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that, subject to the exceptions described below, no person or entity may own, or be deemed to own, beneficially or by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than     %, by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding capital stock. We refer to the person or entity that, but for operation of the ownership limits or another restriction on ownership and transfer of shares as described below, would beneficially own or constructively own shares of our capital stock in violation of such limits or restrictions and, if appropriate in the context, a person or entity that would have been the record owner of such shares as a “prohibited owner.”

The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause shares owned beneficially or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be deemed owned beneficially or constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, even if a shareholder’s actual ownership does not exceed the share ownership limits described, on a constructive ownership basis such shareholder may exceed those limits.

The ownership limits described above do not apply to our founders and co-chief executive officers, Jeffrey C. Villano and John L. Villano, who, immediately after this offering is consummated, will own     % and     %, respectively, of our issued and outstanding common shares. In addition, our board of directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt, prospectively or retroactively, a particular shareholder from the ownership limits or establish a different limit on ownership (the “excepted holder limit”) if we obtain representations and undertakings from such shareholders as are reasonably necessary for the board of directors to determine that such shareholder’s beneficial or constructive ownership of our shares will not result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify to be taxed as a REIT. Any violation or attempted violation of any such representations or undertakings will result in such shareholder’s shares being automatically transferred to a charitable trust. As a condition of granting the waiver or establishing the excepted holder limit, our board of directors may require an opinion of counsel or a ruling from the IRS, in

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either case in form and substance satisfactory to our board of directors, in its sole discretion, in order to determine or ensure our status as a REIT. Our board of directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such a waiver or establishing an excepted holder limit.

In connection with granting a waiver of the ownership limits or creating an excepted holder limit or at any other time, our board of directors may from time to time increase or decrease the common share ownership limit, for all other persons, unless, after giving effect to such increase, five or fewer individuals could beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than 49.9% in value of our outstanding shares or we would otherwise fail to qualify to be taxed as a REIT. A reduced ownership limit will not apply to any person or entity whose percentage ownership of our common shares or our shares of all classes and series, as applicable, is, at the effective time of such reduction, in excess of such decreased ownership limit until such time as such person’s or entity’s percentage ownership of our common shares or our shares of all classes and series, as applicable, equals or falls below the decreased ownership limit, but any further acquisition of our common shares or shares of other classes or series of our capital stock, as applicable, will violate the decreased ownership limit.

Thus, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, prohibits:

any person from beneficially or constructively owning, applying certain attribution rules of the Code, shares of our capital stock that would result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify to be taxed as a REIT;
any person from transferring shares of our capital stock if the transfer would result in shares of our capital stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code); and
any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares of our capital stock to the extent such ownership would result in our failing to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our capital stock that will or may violate the ownership limits or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of our capital stock described above, or who would have owned shares of our capital stock transferred to the trust as described below, must immediately give notice to us of such event or, in the case of an attempted or proposed transaction, give us at least 15 days’ prior written notice and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our status as a REIT. The foregoing restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of our capital stock will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, to be taxed as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limits on ownership and transfer of shares of our capital stock described above is no longer required.

If any transfer of shares of our capital stock would result in such shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons, the transfer will be null and void and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in the shares. In addition, if any purported transfer of shares of our capital stock or any other event would otherwise result in any person violating the ownership limits or an excepted holder limit established by our board of directors, or in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify to be taxed as a REIT or as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code, then that number of shares (rounded up to the nearest whole share) that would cause the violation will be automatically transferred to, and held by, a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable organizations selected by us, and the intended transferee or other prohibited owner will acquire no rights in the shares. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the violating transfer or other event that results in a transfer to the trust. If the transfer to the trust as described above is not automatically effective, for any reason, to prevent a violation of the applicable ownership limits or our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or our otherwise failing

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to qualify to be taxed as a REIT or as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” then the transfer of the shares will be null and void and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares.

Shares of our capital stock held in the trust will be issued and outstanding shares. The prohibited owner will not benefit economically from ownership of any of our capital shares held in the trust and will have no rights to distributions and no rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the trust. The trustee of the trust will exercise all voting rights and receive all distributions with respect to shares held in the trust for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary of the trust. Any distribution made before we discover that the shares have been transferred to a trust as described above must be repaid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand by us. Subject to New York law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will have the authority to rescind as void any vote cast by a prohibited owner before our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary of the trust. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee may not rescind and recast the vote.

Shares of our capital stock transferred to the trustee are deemed offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the market price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the market price on the date we, or our designee, accepts such offer. We may reduce the amount so payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of any dividend or distribution that we made to the prohibited owner before we discovered that the shares had been automatically transferred to the trust, and we may pay the amount of any such reduction to the trustee for distribution to the charitable beneficiary. We have the right to accept such offer until the trustee has sold the shares of our capital shares held in the trust as discussed below. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold terminates, and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and must distribute any distributions held by the trustee with respect to such shares to the charitable beneficiary.

If we do not buy the shares, the trustee must, within 20 days of receiving notice from us of the transfer of shares to the trust, sell the shares to a person or entity designated by the trustee who could own the shares without violating the ownership limits or the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of our capital shares. After the sale of the shares, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares transferred to the trust will terminate and the trustee must distribute to the prohibited owner an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares (or, if the prohibited owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust (for example, in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the market price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust) and (ii) the sales proceeds (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) received by the trust for the shares. The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of any distribution that we paid to the prohibited owner before we discovered that the shares had been automatically transferred to the trust and that are then owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee as described above. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited owner must be paid immediately to the charitable beneficiary, together with any distributions thereon. In addition, if, prior to the discovery by us that shares have been transferred to a trust, such shares are sold by a prohibited owner, then such shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for or in respect of such shares that exceeds the amount that such prohibited owner was entitled to receive, such excess amount will be paid to the trustee upon demand. The prohibited owner has no rights in the shares held by the trustee.

In addition, if our board of directors determines that a transfer or other event has occurred that would violate the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of our stock described above, our board of directors may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such transfer, including, but not limited to, causing us to redeem the shares, refusing to give effect to the transfer on our books or instituting proceedings to enjoin the transfer.

Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of shares of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, must give

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us written notice stating the shareholder’s name and address, the number of shares of each class and series of our capital stock that the shareholder beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner must provide to us such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the shareholder’s beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits. In addition, any person or entity that is a beneficial owner or constructive owner of shares of our capital stock and any person or entity (including the shareholder of record) who is holding shares of our capital stock for a beneficial owner or constructive owner must, on request, provide to us such information as we may request in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits.

Certificates representing shares of our capital stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of our capital stock described above.

The restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of our capital stock described above could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control, including one that might involve a premium price for our common shares or otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is Issuer Direct Corporation located at 500 Perimeter Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560.

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF NEW YORK LAW AND
OF OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

The following summary of certain provisions of New York law, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the New York Business Corporation Law and to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws. Copies of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our Board of Directors

We have one class of directors. Each director serves for a one-year term or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Our bylaws provide that our board of directors will consist of not less than one and not more than nine directors. As of the date of this prospectus, our board of directors consists of five members.

Election of Directors; Removals; Vacancies

Directors are elected by a plurality of all of the votes cast in the election of directors.

Under our bylaws a director may be removed for cause by the board of directors or by shareholders acting by a simple majority.

Our bylaws provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. However, only shareholders can fill a vacancy on our board of directors that is caused by the removal of a director by action of shareholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the director he or she is replacing or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Meetings of Shareholders

Our bylaws provide that a meeting of our shareholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business will be held annually on such day during the period from May 1 through October 31, other than a legal holiday and at the time and place set by the board of directors. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called at any time by the president and must be called by the president at the request in writing of a majority of the directors then in office or at the request in writing filed with our secretary by the holders of a majority of our issued and outstanding shares of capital shares entitled to vote at such a meeting.

Shareholder Actions by Written Consent

Under Section 615 of the BCL and our certificate of incorporation, as amended, shareholder action may be taken without a meeting if a written consent, setting forth the action so taken, is given by the shareholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting of shareholders.

Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Under the BCL, a New York corporation may amend its certificate of incorporation if such action is declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our bylaws provide that each of our board of directors and our shareholders has the power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

Transactions Outside the Ordinary Course of Business

Under the BCL, a New York corporation generally may not dissolve, merge or consolidate with another entity, sell all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a statutory share exchange unless the action is declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, unless a greater percentage is specified in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, does not provide for a super majority vote on any matter.

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Business Combinations

Under the BCL, certain “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange and, in certain circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a New York corporation and an “interested shareholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting shares or an affiliate of such an interested shareholder) are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. Thereafter, any such business combination must generally be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder, unless, among other conditions, the corporation’s common shareholders receive a minimum price (as described in the BCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares. A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. A corporation’s board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

REIT Qualification

Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that our board of directors may authorize us to revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without approval of our shareholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT.

Limitation on Directors’ Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The BCL permits a New York corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision limiting the liability of its directors to the corporation and its shareholders for money damages, except if a judgment or other final adjudication establishes that (i) the director’s acts were committed in bad faith, (ii) involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) he personally gained a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled or (iv) his act involves (A) the declaration of a dividend that violated section 510 of the BCL; (B) the purchase or redemption of shares of our capital shares in violation of section 513 of the BCL; (C) the distribution of assets to shareholders after dissolution without paying or adequately providing for the payment of all known liabilities; and (D) the making of loans to a director in violation of section 714 of the BCL.

The BCL permits us to indemnify any present or former director or officer, against judgments, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses including attorney’s fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of the action or proceeding, including any appeals, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, in criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

In addition, the BCL permits us to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon our receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer or director to repay such amount as, and to the extent, such officer or director is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification or, if entitled to indemnification, to the extent the amount advanced exceeds the indemnification to which such officer or director is entitled.

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Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws obligate us, to the fullest extent permitted by New York law in effect from time to time, to indemnify, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity and any individual who, while a member of our board of directors and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, trustee or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity authorized by;

by the board, acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding upon a finding that the director or officer has met the standard of conduct set forth in the NYBCL; or
by the board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such sections has been met by such director or officer; or
by shareholders upon a finding that the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such sections.

The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided by the indemnification provisions of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws are not deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any statute, bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

We cannot predict the effect, if any, future sales of our common shares, or the availability for future sales of our common shares, will have on the market price of our common shares prevailing from time to time. The sale of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of our common shares.

Immediately prior to this offering and after taking into account the exchange, we had 8,533,237 common shares issued and outstanding, beneficially owned by      shareholders. Immediately after this offering, we will have outstanding      common shares (or      shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full.) The shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any common shares held by our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, which would be subject to the limitations and restrictions described below.

A person (or persons whose securities are aggregated) who is deemed to be an affiliate of ours and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of one percent of the then outstanding shares of securities of such class or the average weekly trading volume of securities of such class during the four calendar weeks preceding such sale. Such sales are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us (which requires that we are current in our periodic reports under the Exchange Act). As of the date of this prospectus, none of our outstanding common shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144 and none of the shares are freely tradable.

We, our directors and executive officers and our pre-offering shareholders expect to enter into lock up agreements with the representative prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities will agree that, during the Lock-Up Period (as defined below), without the prior written consent of the representative, they will not (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common shares owned or acquired on or prior to the closing date of this offering (including any common shares acquired after the closing date of this offering upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of such securities); (2) file or caused to be filed any registration statement relating to the offering of any shares of our capital shares; or (3) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of common shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1), (2) or (3) above is to be settled by delivery of shares common shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except for certain exceptions and limitations. The Lock-Up Period will be 12 months from the date of this prospectus for us, our officers and directors and six months from the date of this prospectus for our other pre-offering shareholders.

The lock-up period described in the preceding paragraphs will be automatically extended if: (1) during the last 17 days of the restricted period, we issue an earnings release or announce material news or a material event; or (2) prior to the expiration of the lock-up period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the lock-up period, in which case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the earnings release.

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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares. Except where noted, this summary deals only with common shares held as a capital asset. This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the “Code”, regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not purport to address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may affect particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, or certain types of investors subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as persons that mark to market their securities, financial institutions (including banks), individual retirement and other tax-deferred accounts, tax-exempt organizations, regulated investment companies, REITs, “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” broker-dealers, former U.S. citizens or long-term residents, life insurance companies, persons that hold common shares as part of a hedge against currency or interest rate risks or that hold common shares as part of a straddle, conversion transaction or other integrated investment, or U.S. holders that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. This discussion does not address any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction or any estate, gift or alternative minimum tax consequences.

For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of common shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
a trust, if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) it was in existence on August 20, 1996 and has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a domestic trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

For purposes of this summary, a “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of common shares that is not a U.S. holder or a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes).

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of common shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A beneficial owner that is a partnership and partners in such a partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares.

Taxation of REITs

General

This section is a summary of certain federal income tax matters of general application pertaining to REITs under the Code. The provisions of the Code pertaining to REITs are highly technical and complex and sometimes involve mixed questions of fact and law. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly retroactively.

We intend to make an election to be treated as a REIT under the Code for our taxable year ended December 31, 2016. The election will be made on our 2016 federal income tax return, which we expect to file on or before September 15, 2017. We believe that we meet all of the requirements for REIT qualification for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In connection with this offering, we will receive an opinion of counsel that, commencing with our taxable year ended on December 31, 2016, we have been organized and operated in

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conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and our current organization and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

It must be emphasized that this opinion of counsel is based on various assumptions relating to our organization and operation and is conditioned upon representations and covenants made by us regarding our organization, assets and the past, present and future conduct of our business operations. Included in these assumptions is that no group of five or fewer shareholders will own 50% of more of our outstanding common shares. In addition, the accuracy of such opinion may also depend on the accuracy of certain opinions rendered to us in connection with various transactions in which we may engage in the future. While we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by counsel or by us that we will so qualify for any particular year. Counsel will have no obligation to advise us or our shareholders of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed in their opinion or of any subsequent change in the applicable law. You should be aware that opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS or any court, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions.

Qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Code, the compliance with which will not be reviewed by counsel. Our ability to qualify as a REIT also requires that we satisfy certain asset tests (discussed below), some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets directly or indirectly owned by us. Such values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. While we intend to continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year will satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

If we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income tax on our net income that is currently distributed to our shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (at the corporate and shareholder levels) that generally results from investment in a corporation. However, notwithstanding our qualification as a REIT, we will be subject to federal income tax as follows:

We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. For this purpose, REIT taxable income is the taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid.
We may, under certain circumstances, be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” on our items of tax preference.
If we have (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (b) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on this income. Foreclosure property generally consists of property acquired through foreclosure or after a default on a loan secured by the property or a lease of the property.
We will be required to pay a 100% tax on any net income from prohibited transactions. Prohibited transactions are, in general, sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.
If we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (as discussed below), but have nonetheless maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements are met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a) the greater of (1) the excess of 75% of our gross income over the amount of such income attributable to sources which qualify under the 75% gross income test and (2) the excess of 95% of our gross income over the amount of such income attributable to sources which qualify under the 95% gross income test, multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

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If we should fail to satisfy any of the REIT asset tests discussed below (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% or 10% asset tests, as discussed below), due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and we nonetheless maintain our REIT qualification because of specified cure provisions, we will be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused us to fail the applicable test.
If we should fail to satisfy any provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT (other than a violation of the REIT gross income tests or asset tests) and the violation is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we may retain our REIT qualification but will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each failure.
If we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subjected to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (i) amounts actually distributed, plus (ii) retained amounts on which income tax is paid at the corporate level. Any REIT ordinary income and capital gain net income on which an income tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed during that year for purposes of calculating the amount of this tax.
If we acquire any asset from a C corporation in a transaction in which the tax basis of the asset in our hands is determined by reference to the tax basis of the asset in the hands of the C corporation, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the applicable “recognition period” (currently 10 years from the time of acquisition, subject to potential legislative changes) then we will generally be required to pay tax at the highest regular corporate tax rate on this gain to the extent of the excess of (1) the fair market value of the asset over (2) the adjusted tax basis in the asset, in each case, determined as of the beginning of the applicable recognition period. The results described in this paragraph with respect to the recognition of gain assume that certain elections specified in applicable Treasury Regulations either are made or forgone, by us or by the entity from which the assets are acquired, in each case, depending on the date the acquisition occurred.
We may be subject to a 100% tax on some items of income or expense that are directly or constructively paid between a taxable REIT subsidiary (as described below) and a REIT if and to the extent that the IRS successfully adjusts the reported amounts of these items.
If we elect to retain the proceeds from the sale of assets that result in net capital gain, we will be required to pay tax at regular corporate tax rates on the retained net capital gain; each shareholder will be required to include the shareholder’s proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain (to the extent we make a timely designation of such gain to the shareholder) in the shareholder’s income, and each of our shareholders will receive a credit or refund for the shareholder’s proportionate share of the tax we pay.
We may be required to pay penalties under certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet certain record keeping requirements.

Furthermore, notwithstanding our status as a REIT, we may have to pay certain state and local income taxes because not all states and localities treat REITs the same as they are treated for federal income tax purposes. We could also be subject to foreign taxes on investments and activities in foreign jurisdictions. In addition, certain of our subsidiaries are subchapter C corporations, the earnings of which are subject to federal corporate income tax. Finally, we could also be subject to tax in certain situations and on certain transactions not presently contemplated.

Requirements for qualification as a REIT

The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

(1) that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

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(2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares or transferable certificates of beneficial interest;
(3) which would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for Sections 856 through 860 of the Code;
(4) which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code;
(5) the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;
(6) in which, during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities);
(7) that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions; and
(8) that makes an election to be a REIT for the current taxable year or has made such an election for a previous taxable year that has not been terminated or revoked.

The Code provides that the first four conditions must be met during the entire taxable year, and that the fifth condition must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than twelve months. The fifth and sixth conditions do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. For purposes of the sixth condition, specified tax-exempt entities (but generally excluding trusts described in Section 401(a) and exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code) generally are treated as individuals and other entities, including pension funds, are subject to “look-through” attribution rules to determine the individuals who constructively own the shares held by the entity.

We intend to operate in a manner so as to satisfy each of the above conditions. In addition, with regard to the fifth and sixth conditions described above, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, will include restrictions regarding ownership and transfers of our shares, which provisions are intended to assist us in satisfying these share ownership requirements. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy these share ownership requirements. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements or otherwise fail to meet the conditions described above, we will fail to qualify as a REIT. See our discussion under “— Failure to qualify as a REIT” for a discussion of the implications of such failure to qualify as a REIT. However, if we comply with certain rules contained in applicable Treasury Regulations that require us to ascertain the actual ownership of our shares, and we do not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that we failed to meet the requirement described in the sixth condition described above, we will be treated as having met this requirement.

To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements, we are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of certain percentages of our shares in which the record holders are to disclose the persons required to include in gross income the REIT dividend. A shareholder who fails or refuses to comply with the demand must submit a statement with such shareholder’s tax return disclosing the actual ownership of the shares and certain other information.

In addition, we must use a calendar year for federal income tax purposes, satisfy all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status, and comply with the recordkeeping requirements of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder. We have had and will continue to have a calendar year, and intend to satisfy the relevant filing, administrative, recordkeeping, and other requirements established by the IRS, the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status.

Gross income tests

In order to maintain qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements on an annual basis. First, at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging transactions, for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from certain

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investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including “rents from real property,” dividends from other REITs and, in certain circumstances, interest or income from certain types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging transactions, for each taxable year must be derived from such real property investments, and from dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities or from any combination of the foregoing.

For these purposes, the term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of all or some of the amount depends in any way on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Furthermore, an amount that depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of a debtor is not excluded from the term “interest” to the extent the amount is attributable to qualified rents received by the debtor if the debtor derives substantially all of its income from the real property securing the debt from leasing substantially all of its interest in the property.

Interest income constitutes qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test to the extent that the obligation upon which such interest is paid is secured by a mortgage on real property. We expect that all or most of the mortgage loans that we acquire will be secured only by real property and no other property value will be taken into account in our underwriting process, however, it is uncertain whether some or all of our mortgage loans may be treated by the IRS as secured by other property, particularly, in the case of a distressed mortgage loan for which the borrower has provided a recourse guarantee. Furthermore, we do not accrue interest income or market discount on defaulted or delinquent loans when certain criteria are satisfied. The criteria generally relate to whether those amounts are uncollectable or of doubtful collectability. Revenue Procedure 2011-16, which would be relevant if the IRS were to challenge our position with respect to the accrual of interest income and market discount and were to conclude that our mortgage loans are secured by other property, provides that that the IRS will treat mortgage loans acquired by a REIT that are secured by real property and other property as producing in part non-qualifying income for the 75% gross income test. Specifically, Revenue Procedure 2011-16 indicates that interest income on such a mortgage loan will be treated as qualifying income based on the ratio of: (i) the fair market value of the real property securing the debt determined as of the date the REIT committed to acquire the loan; and (ii) the face amount of the loan (and not the purchase price or current value of the loan). In the case of a distressed mortgage loan, the face amount of the loan will typically exceed the fair market value of the real property securing the mortgage loan on the date the REIT commits to acquire the loan. At this time, we do not intend to invest in distressed mortgage loans.

In the future, we may agree to modify the terms of our mortgage loans to avoid foreclosure actions and for other reasons. Under the Code, if the terms of a loan are modified in a manner constituting a “significant modification,” such modification triggers a deemed exchange of the original loan for the modified loan, generally resulting in taxable gain or loss that is potentially eligible for installment method reporting. To the extent that such mortgage loan qualified as a real estate asset for purposes of the 75% asset test (see “— Asset tests,” below), we intend to treat a proportionate part of any gain from a deemed exchange of a mortgage loan as income qualifying under the 75% gross income test. With respect to the interest income we subsequently receive from a mortgage loan that has been the subject of a deemed exchange, IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-16 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which we will not be required to redetermine the fair market value of the real property securing a loan for purposes of the gross income and asset tests in connection with a loan modification that is: (i) occasioned by a borrower default; or (ii) made at a time when we reasonably believe that the modification to the loan will substantially reduce a significant risk of default on the original loan. We cannot assure you that all of our loan modifications will qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2011-16. To the extent we significantly modify loans in a manner that does not qualify for that safe harbor we will be required to redetermine the value of the real property securing the loan at the time it was significantly modified. In determining the value of the real property securing such a loan, we generally will not obtain third-party appraisals, but rather will rely on internal valuations. We cannot assure you that the IRS will not successfully challenge our internal valuations. If the terms of our mortgage loans are significantly

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modified in a manner that does not qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2011-16 and the fair market value of the real property securing such loans has decreased significantly, we could fail the 75% gross income test and/or the 75% asset test.

To the extent that the terms of a loan provide for contingent interest that is based on the cash proceeds realized upon the sale of the property securing the loan (a “shared appreciation provision”), income attributable to the participation feature will be treated as gain from sale of the underlying property, which generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests provided that the property is not held as inventory or dealer property. To the extent that we derive interest income from a mortgage loan, where all or a portion of the amount of interest payable is contingent, such income generally will qualify for purposes of the gross income tests only if it is based upon the gross receipts or sales, and not the net income or profits, of the borrower.

We may enter into sale and repurchase agreements under which we nominally sell all or a portion of our mortgage portfolio to a counterparty and simultaneously entered into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets. Based on positions the IRS has taken in analogous situations, we believe that we will be treated for purposes of the REIT gross income and asset tests (see “— Asset tests,” below) as the owner of the mortgage assets that are the subject of any such agreement notwithstanding that we transferred record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the mortgage assets during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case our ability to qualify as a REIT could be adversely affected.

Our share of any dividends received from our non-REIT corporate subsidiaries and from other corporations in which we own an interest (e.g., taxable REIT subsidiaries), will generally qualify under the 95% gross income test but not under the 75% gross income test. We do not anticipate that we will receive sufficient dividends from such persons to cause us to exceed the limit on nonqualifying income under the 75% gross income test.

If the IRS successfully asserts that any amount of interest or other deduction of a taxable REIT subsidiary for amounts paid to us exceeds amounts determined at arm’s length, the IRS’s adjustment of such an item could trigger a 100% excise tax which would be imposed on the portion that is excessive. See “— Penalty Tax” below.

Taking into account our anticipated sources of nonqualifying income, we believe that our aggregate gross income from all sources will satisfy the income tests applicable to us. However, we may not always be able to maintain compliance with the gross income tests for REIT qualification despite periodic monitoring of our income. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet such tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we attached a schedule of the sources of our income to our tax return, and any incorrect information on the schedule was not due to fraud with intent to evade tax. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances involving us, we will not qualify as a REIT. See “— Failure to Qualify as a REIT” in this section for a discussion of the implications of such failure to qualify as a REIT. As discussed above in “— Taxation of REITs — General” in this section, even where these relief provisions apply, we would be subject to a penalty tax based upon the amount of our non-qualifying income.

Asset tests

At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we also must satisfy four tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets.

First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets at the end of each quarter must consist of real estate assets, cash, cash items and U.S. government securities. For purposes of this test, the term “real estate assets” generally means real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property) and shares (or transferable certificates of beneficial interest) in other REITs, as well as any stock or debt instrument attributable to the investment of the proceeds of a stock offering by us or a public debt offering by

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us with a term of at least five years, but the stock or debt instrument qualifies as a “real estate asset” only for the one-year period beginning on the date that we receive the proceeds of the offering.

Second, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities (other than those securities that qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test).

Third, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by the securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Fourth, except for securities that qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test and investments in our qualified REIT subsidiaries and our taxable REIT subsidiaries (each as described below), the value of any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets, and we may not own more than 10% of the total vote or value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer, except, in the case of the 10% value test, certain “straight debt” securities. Certain types of securities are disregarded as securities solely for purposes of the 10% value test, including, but not limited to, any loan to an individual or an estate, any obligation to pay rents from real property and any security issued by a REIT. In addition, solely for purposes of the 10% value test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or other entity (rather than solely our interest in the capital of the partnership or other entity), excluding, for these purposes, certain securities described in the Code.

The asset tests described above must be satisfied at the close of each quarter of our taxable year in which we (directly or through our partnerships, other entities classified as partnerships or qualified REIT subsidiaries) acquire securities in the applicable issuer, increase our ownership of securities of the issuer (including as a result of increasing our interest in a partnership or other entity which owns the securities), or acquire other assets. For example, our indirect ownership of securities of an issuer through a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes may increase as a result of our capital contributions to the partnership or other entity. After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter as a REIT, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If we fail to satisfy the asset test because we acquire securities or other property during a quarter (including as a result of an increase in our interests in a partnership or other entity), we may cure this failure by disposing of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the values of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests. In addition, we intend to take any actions within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance.

A mortgage loan that we own will generally be treated as a real estate asset for purposes of the 75% asset test if, on the date that we acquire or originate the mortgage loan, the value of the real property securing the loan is equal or greater than the principal amount of the loan. In the event that we invest in a mortgage loan that is secured by both real property and other property or where the value of the real property securing the loan is less than the principal amount of the loan, a portion of the mortgage loan may not qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test and Revenue Procedure 2011-16 may apply to determine what portion of the mortgage loan will be treated as a real estate asset for purposes of the 75% asset test. The interest apportionment rules discussed above may also apply in such case. We expect that all or most of the mortgage loans that we acquire will be secured only by real property and no other property value will be taken into account in our underwriting process, however, it is uncertain whether some or all of our mortgage loans may be treated by the IRS as secured by other property, particularly in the case of a distressed mortgage loan for which the borrower has provided a recourse guarantee. Pursuant to Revenue Procedure 2011-16, the IRS has announced that it will not challenge a REIT’s treatment of a loan as a real estate asset in its entirety to the extent that the value of the loan is equal to or less than the value of the real property securing the loan at the relevant testing date. However, uncertainties exist regarding the application of Revenue Procedure 2011-16, particularly with respect to the proper treatment under the asset tests of mortgage loans acquired at a discount that increase in value following their acquisition, and no assurance can be given that the IRS would not challenge our treatment of mortgage loans acquired at a discount. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances

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which could affect the application of the REIT asset tests. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our interests in subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers cause a violation of the REIT asset tests.

We may enter into sale and repurchase agreements under which we nominally sell all or apportion of our loan portfolio to a counterparty and simultaneously entered into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets in exchange for a purchase price that reflects a financing charge. Based on positions the IRS has taken in analogous situations, we believe that we will be treated for REIT asset and income test purposes as the owner of the mortgage assets that are the subject of such agreements notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the mortgage assets during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

There are relief provisions that may be available to us if we discover a failure to satisfy the asset tests described above after the 30-day cure period. Under these provisions, we are deemed to have met the 5% and 10% asset tests if (1) the value of our nonqualifying assets does not exceed the lesser of (a) 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the applicable quarter or (b) $10 million and (2) we dispose of the nonqualifying assets or otherwise satisfy these tests within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) a different period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued. For violations of any of the asset tests due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and that are, in the case of the 5% and 10% asset tests, in excess of the de minimis exception described above, we may avoid disqualification as a REIT after the 30-day cure period by taking certain required steps, including (1) the disposition of sufficient nonqualifying assets, or the taking of other actions, which allow us to meet the asset test within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) a different period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, (2) paying a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets, and (3) disclosing certain information to the IRS.

Although we expect to satisfy the asset tests described above and plan to take steps to ensure that we satisfy these tests for each quarter with respect to which we are required to apply the tests, there can be no assurance that we will always be successful or will not require a reduction in our overall interest in an issuer (including in a taxable REIT subsidiary). If we fail to cure any noncompliance with an asset test in a timely manner and the relief provisions described above do not apply, we will cease to qualify as a REIT.

Ownership of interests in partnerships and other entities classified as partnerships

We may own and operate one or more properties through partnerships and other entities classified as partnerships. Treasury Regulations provide that if we are a partner in a partnership, we are deemed to own our proportionate share of the assets of the partnership based on our interest in partnership capital, subject to special rules relating to the 10% REIT asset test described above. Also, we are deemed to be entitled to our proportionate share of the income of the partnership. The assets and gross income of the partnership retain the same character in our hands for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. In addition, for these purposes, the assets and items of income of any partnership in which we own a direct or indirect interest include the partnership’s share of assets and items of income of any partnership in which it owns an interest. The treatment described above also applies with respect to the ownership of interests in limited liability companies or other entities that are classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We may have direct or indirect control of certain partnerships and other entities classified as partnerships and intend to continue to operate them in a manner consistent with the requirements for qualification as a REIT. From time to time we may be a limited partner or non-managing member in certain partnerships and other entities classified as partnerships. If a partnership or other entity in which we own an interest takes or expects to take actions that could jeopardize our status as a REIT or require us to pay tax, we may be forced to dispose of our interest in the entity. In addition, a partnership or other entity could take an action which could cause us to fail a REIT income or asset test, and we might not become aware of the action in time to

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dispose of our interest in the applicable entity or take other corrective action on a timely basis. In this case, unless we are entitled to relief, as described above, we will fail to qualify as a REIT.

Ownership of interests in qualified REIT subsidiaries

We may from time to time own and operate certain properties through wholly owned corporate subsidiaries (including entities which, absent the application of the provisions in this paragraph, would be treated as associations classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that we intend to be treated as “qualified REIT subsidiaries” under the Code. A corporation will qualify as our qualified REIT subsidiary if we own 100% of the corporation’s outstanding stock, and if we do not elect with the subsidiary to treat it as a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” as described below. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a separate corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. All assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit (as the case may be) of the parent REIT for all purposes under the Code, including the REIT qualification tests. Thus, in applying the federal tax requirements described herein, any corporations in which we own a 100% interest (other than any taxable REIT subsidiaries) are disregarded, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of these corporations are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not required to pay federal income tax, and our ownership of the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary does not violate the restrictions against ownership of securities of any one issuer which constitute more than 10% of the voting power or value of the issuer’s securities or more than 5% of the value of our total assets.

Ownership of interests in taxable REIT subsidiaries

A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation other than another REIT or a qualified REIT subsidiary in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with the REIT to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary also includes any corporation other than a REIT with respect to which a taxable REIT subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, securities possessing more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the securities of the corporation. A taxable REIT subsidiary generally may engage in any business, including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of its parent REIT, except that a taxable REIT subsidiary may not directly or indirectly operate or manage a lodging or healthcare facility or directly or indirectly provide to any other person (under a franchise, license or otherwise) rights to any brand name under which any lodging or healthcare facility is operated, except in certain limited circumstances permitted by the Code. A taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal income tax as a regular C corporation. In addition, a taxable REIT subsidiary may be prevented from deducting interest on debt funded directly or indirectly by its parent REIT if certain tests regarding the taxable REIT subsidiary’s debt-to-equity ratio and interest expense are not satisfied. Our ownership of securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries will not be subject to the 5% or 10% asset tests described above. See “— Asset tests” above.

Unlike a qualified REIT subsidiary, the income and assets of a taxable REIT subsidiary are not attributed to us for purposes of the conditions that we must satisfy to maintain our REIT status. Accordingly, the separate existence of a taxable REIT subsidiary is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Rather, for REIT asset and income testing purposes, we take into account our interest in a taxable REIT subsidiary’s securities and the income and gain we derive therefrom. A taxable REIT subsidiary or other taxable corporation generally is subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow that we and our subsidiaries generate in the aggregate, and may reduce our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. A taxable REIT subsidiary may engage in activities or hold assets that are not permitted to be performed or held directly by us or a partnership in which we are a partner without affecting REIT compliance, such as providing certain services to tenants or others (other than in connection with the operation or management of a lodging or healthcare facility). However, certain restrictions are imposed on our ability to own, and our dealings with, taxable REIT subsidiaries. These restrictions are intended to ensure that taxable REIT subsidiaries comprise a limited amount of our business (e.g., the securities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries cannot comprise more than 25% of the value of our total assets) and that taxable REIT subsidiaries remain subject to an appropriate level of federal income taxation.

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Distribution requirements

In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to the sum of:

90% of our “REIT taxable income;” plus
90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property; minus
the excess of the sum of certain items of non-cash income over 5% of our “REIT taxable income,” as described below.

For these purposes, our “REIT taxable income” is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding our net capital gain. In addition, for purposes of this test, non-cash income means income attributable to leveled stepped rents, original issue discount, cancellation of indebtedness and any like-kind exchanges that are later determined to be taxable.

Such dividend distributions generally must be made in the taxable year to which they relate or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if paid with or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be required to pay tax on the undistributed amount at regular ordinary or capital gain (as applicable) corporate tax rates.

We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements. However, it is possible that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash to meet the 90% distribution requirement due to timing differences between (a) the actual receipt of cash and (b) the inclusion of certain items in income by us for federal income tax purposes. In the event that such timing differences occur, in order to meet the 90% distribution requirement, we may find it necessary to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings or to pay dividends in the form of taxable distributions of property, including taxable distributions of our shares.

Under certain circumstances, we may be permitted to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our shareholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid losing our REIT qualification or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will be required, however, to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

Furthermore, we will be required to pay a 4% excise tax to the extent that the amounts we actually distribute during each calendar year (or in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, by the end of January immediately following such year) and the amounts we retain and pay corporate income tax on are less than the sum of 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. Any REIT ordinary income and capital gain net income on which an income tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed during that year for purposes of calculating the amount of this tax. We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy this annual distribution requirement.

Differences in REIT taxable income and cash flows from distressed loans/loan modification

We may recognize taxable income in advance of our receipt of cash or proceeds from disposition of such assets potentially increasing the amount of dividends that we are required to distribute. We may be also required to report taxable income in earlier periods that ultimately exceeds the economic income realized on various assets.

For example, we may enter into loan modification agreements with borrowers. If the amendments to the outstanding debt are “significant modifications” under the applicable Treasury Regulations, the modified debt may be considered to have been reissued to us in a debt-for-debt exchange with the borrower. In that event, we may be required to recognize taxable income to the extent the principal amount of the modified debt exceeds our adjusted tax basis in the unmodified debt, potentially subject to installment method reporting, and

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hold the modified loan with a cost basis equal to its modified principal amount for U.S. federal tax purposes. Alternatively, in the event a borrower with respect to a particular debt instrument encounters financial difficulty rendering it unable to pay stated interest as due, we may nonetheless be required to continue to recognize the unpaid interest as taxable income regardless of whether corresponding cash payments are received.

Prohibited transaction income

Any gain that we realize on the sale of property held as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business (but excluding foreclosure property), either directly or through our operating partnership or disregarded subsidiary entities, generally is treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. This prohibited transaction income may also adversely affect our ability to satisfy the income tests for qualification as a REIT. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. The Code includes a safe-harbor provision that treats a sale as not constituting a prohibited transaction, the income from which is subject to the 100% penalty tax, if the following requirements are met:

the property sold is a real estate asset for purposes of the asset tests discussed above;
the REIT has held the property for at least two years;
aggregate expenditures made by the REIT during the two-year period preceding the date of the sale that are includible in the tax basis of the property do not exceed 30% of the net selling price of the property;
either (i) the REIT does not make more than seven sales of property during the taxable year (excluding foreclosure property and any involuntary conversion to which Section 1033 of the Code applies), (ii) the aggregate adjusted tax bases of the properties sold by the REIT during the taxable year (excluding foreclosure property and any involuntary conversion to which Section 1033 of the Code applies) do not exceed 10% of the aggregate tax bases of all of the assets of the REIT as of the beginning of the taxable year, or (iii) the fair market value of the properties sold by the REIT during the taxable year (excluding foreclosure property and any involuntary conversion to which Section 1033 of the Code applies) do not exceed 10% of the fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT as of the beginning of the taxable year;
with respect to property that constitutes land or improvements (excluding property acquired through foreclosure (or deed in lieu of foreclosure) and lease terminations), the property has been held for not less than two years for the production of rental income; and
if the REIT has made more than seven sales of property during the taxable year (excluding foreclosure property and any involuntary conversion to which Section 1033 of the Code applies), substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property are made through an independent contractor from whom the REIT does not derive or receive any income.

The modification or sale of our mortgage loan assets could also give rise to prohibited transaction income. Revenue Procedure 2011-16 provides a safe harbor whereby, if a significant modification qualifies under the Revenue Procedure (see “— Gross income tests,” above), the deemed exchange is not treated as a prohibited transaction. The Revenue Procedure does not provide a safe harbor with respect to sales of mortgage loans.

We do not intend to acquire any direct or indirect interests in real estate and, even if we do, such as a result of a foreclosure, we do not intend to enter into any sales that are prohibited transactions. Nevertheless, the IRS may contend that these sales are subject to the 100% penalty tax on income from prohibited transactions. If we decide to sell assets in a manner that might expose us to the 100% prohibited transactions tax, we may contribute those assets to a TRS prior to marketing and sale of those assets to avoid the prohibited transactions tax. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS will respect the transaction by

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which those assets are contributed to the TRS and even if the contribution transaction is respected, the TRS may incur a significant tax liability as a result of those sales.

Failure to qualify as a REIT

Specified cure provisions may be available to us in the event that we discover a violation of a provision of the Code that would otherwise result in our failure to qualify as a REIT. Except with respect to violations of the REIT income tests and assets tests (for which the cure provisions are described above), and provided the violation is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, these cure provisions generally impose a $50,000 penalty for each violation in lieu of a loss of REIT status. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be required to pay tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at the applicable regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT are not deductible by us, and we will not be required to distribute any amounts to our shareholders. As a result, we anticipate that our failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for distribution by us to our shareholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, all distributions to shareholders will be taxable as regular corporate dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. In this event, shareholders taxed as individuals currently will be taxed on these dividends at a maximum rate of 23.8% (the same as the maximum rate applicable to long-term capital gains), including the 3.8% Medicare tax described below and corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also will be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost our qualification. We cannot determine whether, under all circumstances in which we discover a violation of any of these provisions of the Code, we will be entitled to this statutory relief.

Taxation of U.S. Holders

Distributions on common shares

If we make a distribution of cash or other property (other than certain pro rata distributions of our common shares) in respect of our common shares, the distribution will be treated as a dividend to the extent it is paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) and will be subject to ordinary graduated federal income tax rates (the maximum individual rate is currently 39.6%), unless such dividend is a capital gain dividend or is qualified dividend income, each discussed below. Dividends, other than capital gain dividends, and certain amounts that have been previously subject to corporate level tax, discussed below, will be taxable to U.S. holders as ordinary income. As long as we qualify as a REIT, these distributions will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of U.S. holders that are corporations.

To the extent that we make distributions on our common shares in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the amount of these distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to a U.S. holder. This treatment will reduce the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares by the amount of the distribution, but not below zero. The amount of any distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits and in excess of a U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the holder’s shares will be taxable as capital gain.

The gain will be taxable as long-term capital gain if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of the distribution. Distributions that we declare in October, November or December of any year and that are payable to a holder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the holder on December 31 of that year, provided we actually pay the distribution on or before January 31 of the following calendar year. U.S. holders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.

To the extent that we pay a portion of a dividend in common shares, U.S. holders may be required to pay tax on the entire amount distributed, including the portion paid in common shares, in which case the holders might be required to pay the tax using cash from other sources. If a U.S. holder sells the common shares that the holder receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be greater or less than the

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amount included in income with respect to the distribution, depending on the market price of our common shares at the time of the sale and, if greater, a U.S. holder will incur additional taxable gain and possibly additional tax liability.

Capital gain dividends

Dividends that we properly designate as capital gain dividends will be taxable to our U.S. holders as a gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset held for more than one year, to the extent that the gain does not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the U.S. holder has held our common shares. We are required to designate which maximum rate bracket is applicable to each category of capital gain dividends, which are generally taxable to non-corporate U.S. holders at a 23.8% maximum rate, including the 3.8% Medicare tax described below. Corporate shareholders, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

Retention of net capital gains

We may elect to retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, all or a portion of our net capital gain. If we make this election, we will pay tax on our retained net capital gains. In addition, to the extent we so elect, a U.S. holder generally will:

include the holder’s pro rata share of our undistributed net capital gain in computing the holder’s long-term capital gains in the holder’s return for the holder’s taxable year in which the last day of our taxable year falls, subject to certain limitations as to the amount that is includible;
be deemed to have paid the holder’s proportionate share of capital gain tax imposed on us on the designated amounts included in the holder’s long-term capital gains;
receive a credit or refund for the amount of tax deemed paid by the holder;
increase the adjusted tax basis of the holder’s common shares by the difference between the amount of includible capital gains and the tax deemed to have been paid by the holder; and
in the case of a U.S. holder that is a corporation, appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be promulgated by the IRS.

Qualified dividend income

A portion of distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits may constitute “qualified dividend income” that is taxed to non-corporate U.S. holders at a maximum rate of 23.8%, including the 3.8% Medicare tax described below, to the extent the amount is attributable to amounts described below, and we properly designate the amount as “qualified dividend income.” The maximum amount of our distributions eligible to be designated as qualified dividend income for a taxable year is equal to the sum of:

the qualified dividend income received by us during the taxable year from regular corporations (including any taxable REIT subsidiaries) or from other REITs (if designated by these REITs as qualified dividend income);
the excess of any undistributed REIT taxable income recognized during the immediately preceding year over the federal income tax paid by us with respect to this undistributed REIT taxable income; and
the excess of any income recognized during the immediately preceding year that is attributable to the sale of an asset acquired from a C corporation, in a transaction in which the tax basis of the asset in our hands is determined by reference to the tax basis of the asset in the hands of the C corporation, over the federal income tax paid by us with respect to the built-in gain.

Sale or other disposition of common shares

You will generally recognize capital gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of common shares. Your gain or loss will equal the difference between the proceeds you received and your adjusted tax basis in the common shares. The proceeds received will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any

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other property received for the common shares. If you are a non-corporate U.S. holder and your holding period for the common shares at the time of the sale or other disposition exceeds one year, such capital gain generally will, under current law, be subject to a reduced federal income tax rate. Your ability to offset ordinary income with capital losses is subject to limitations.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment generally will be allowed as a credit against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Recent legislation requires information reporting and withholding at a rate of 30% on dividends in respect of and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale of, our common shares held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Secretary of the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in the institution held by certain United States persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by United States persons. Accordingly, the entity through which our common shares is held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of, and gross proceeds from the sale of, our common shares held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies to us that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which we will in turn provide to the Secretary of the Treasury. Non-U.S. holders are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of the legislation on their investment in our common shares.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders

Sale or other disposition of our common shares

A non-U.S. shareholder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized upon a sale or other disposition of our common shares unless the shares constitute a United States Real Property Interest, or “USRPI” (which determination generally includes a five-year look-back period), within the meaning of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA. An interest in shares of any U.S. corporation is presumed to be a USRPI unless an exception from such status under the FIRPTA rules applies. One such exception is for shares of a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” Our common shares will not constitute a USRPI if we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” includes a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of the shares of its stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. persons. Although we believe that we are domestically controlled, because our common shares are publicly traded we cannot make any assurance that we will remain domestically controlled.

Even if we are not a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” at the time a non-U.S. holder sells or exchanges our common shares, gain arising from the sale or exchange of will generally not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI if:

(1) our common shares are “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, such as the NASDAQ Capital Market and
(2) the non-U.S. holder owns or owned, actually and constructively, 10% or less of our outstanding common shares throughout the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.

Our common shares listed and “regularly trade” on the NASDAQ Capital Market, an established securities market. Thus, even if we are not a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” at the time a non-U.S. holder sells or exchanges our common shares, as long as our shares are regularly traded on an established securities market at that time and the non-U.S. holder does not own, or has not owned during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange, more than 10% of our outstanding common shares, gain arising from the sale generally will not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI. If gain on the sale or exchange by a non-U.S. holder of our common shares is subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax with respect to the gain in the same manner as a U.S. holder (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals). In addition, if at the time of the sale or

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exchange of our common shares is not “regularly traded on an established securities market,” the purchaser of the shares generally will be required to withhold and remit an amount equal to 15% of the purchase price to the IRS.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale or exchange of our common shares not otherwise subject to taxation under FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-U.S. holder if either (1) the investment in our common shares is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s United States trade or business (and, if a tax treaty applies, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder) or (2) the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met. In addition, even if we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” upon disposition of our common shares (subject to the 10% exception applicable to “regularly traded” stock described above), a non-U.S. holder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of USRPIs if the non-U.S. holder (1) disposes of the shares within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI and (2) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, other shares within a 61-day period beginning with the first day of the 30-day period described in the immediately preceding clause (1).

Recently enacted legislation provides special rules pursuant to which sales or dispositions of our common shares by certain “qualified foreign pension funds” (as defined for these purposes) may also be exempt from U.S. taxation under FIRPTA.

Distributions on common shares

If a non-U.S. shareholder receives a distribution with respect to our common shares that is neither attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of USRPIs nor designated by us as a capital gain dividend, the distribution will be generally taxed as ordinary income to the extent that the distribution is made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes). The non-U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate on the gross amount of such taxable dividend unless:

the dividend is effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and the holder provides to the person who otherwise would be required to withhold U.S. tax an IRS Form W-8ECI (or suitable substitute or successor form) to avoid withholding) or
an applicable tax treaty provides for a lower rate of withholding tax (and the holder certifies that he is entitled to benefits under the treaty by delivering a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN) to the person required to withhold U.S. tax.

Under certain tax treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from a REIT.

Except to the extent provided by an applicable tax treaty, a dividend that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis at the rates applicable to United States persons generally (and, if the holder is a corporation, may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax unless reduced by an applicable tax treaty).

Capital gain dividends and distributions attributable to a sale or exchange of USRPIs

Pursuant to FIRPTA, income from distributions paid by us to a non-U.S. holder of our common shares that is attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of USRPIs (whether or not designated as capital gain dividends) will be treated as income effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Non-U.S. holders generally will be taxed on the amount of this income at the same rates applicable to U.S. holders, subject to a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. We will also be required to withhold and to remit to the IRS 35% of the amount of any distributions paid by us to a non-U.S. holder that is designated as a capital gain dividend, or, if greater, 35% of the amount of any distributions paid by us to the non-U.S. holder that is permitted to be designated as a capital gain dividend, in either case, unless a lower treaty rate is applicable. If we designate a prior distribution as a capital gain dividend, we may

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be required to do “catch-up” on subsequent distributions to achieve the correct withholding. The amount withheld will be creditable against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

Income from a distribution paid by a REIT to a non-U.S. holder with respect to any class of stock which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States, however, generally should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA, and therefore, will not be subject to the rates applicable to U.S. holders or to the 35% U.S. withholding tax described above, but only if the non-U.S. holder does not own more than 10% of the class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution. Instead, this income will be treated as ordinary dividend distributions, generally subject to withholding at the 30% rate or lower treaty rate discussed above. We expect that our common shares will be listed and will regularly trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market, which qualifies as an established securities market located in the United States. Thus, income from distributions paid by us to non-U.S. holders who do not own more than 10% of our outstanding common shares generally should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA, or the corresponding 35% withholding tax, but rather, income from distributions paid by us to such a non-U.S. holder that is attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of USRPIs should be treated as ordinary dividend distributions.

Under recently enacted legislation, distributions of proceeds from the sale or other disposition of USRPIs by a REIT to certain “qualified foreign pension funds” (as defined for these purposes) will no longer be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA.

The treatment of income from distributions paid by us to a non-U.S. holder that we designate as capital gain dividends, other than distributions attributable to income arising from the disposition of a USRPI, is not clear. However, we do not anticipate owning any non-USRPTI. Non-U.S. holders should discuss the consequences of any withholding on capital gains distributions not attributable to a disposition of a USRPI with their tax advisors.

Retention of net capital gains

Although the law is not clear on the matter, we believe that amounts designated by us as retained capital gains in respect of our common shares held by U.S. holders generally should be treated with respect to non-U.S. holders in the same manner as the treatment of actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, a non-U.S. holder will be permitted to offset as a credit against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability resulting from the holder’s proportionate share of the tax we pay on retained capital gains, and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent that the holder’s proportionate share of the tax paid by us exceeds the holder’s actual U.S. federal income tax liability.

Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning our common shares.

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders

Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. However, they may be subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). While some investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the IRS has ruled that dividend distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt entity do not constitute UBTI. Based on that ruling, and provided that (i) a tax-exempt shareholder has not held our common shares as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code ( i.e. , where the acquisition or holding of the property is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt shareholder) and (ii) our common shares are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, distributions that we make and income from the sale of our common shares generally should not give rise to UBTI to a tax-exempt shareholder.

Tax-exempt shareholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally require such shareholders to characterize distributions that we make as UBTI.

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In certain circumstances, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of our outstanding common shares could be required to treat a percentage of any dividends received from us as UBTI if we are a “pension-held REIT.” We will not be a pension-held REIT unless (i) we are required to “look through” one or more of our pension trust shareholders in order to satisfy the REIT “closely held” test and (ii) either (a) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our outstanding common shares or (b) one or more pension trusts, each individually holding more than 10% of the value of our outstanding common shares, collectively own more than 50% of the value of our outstanding common shares. Certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our common shares generally should prevent a tax-exempt entity from owning more than 10% of the value of our outstanding common shares and generally should prevent us from becoming a pension-held REIT.

Tax-exempt shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning our common shares.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with dividends on common shares and the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of common shares. A non-exempt U.S. holder may be subject to U.S. backup withholding on these payments if it fails to provide its taxpayer identification number to the withholding agent and comply with certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding.

A non-U.S. holder may be subject to the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding on these payments unless the non-U.S. holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person. The certification requirements generally will be satisfied if the non-U.S. holder provides the applicable withholding agent with a statement on IRS Form W-8BEN (or suitable substitute or successor form), together with all appropriate attachments, signed under penalties of perjury, stating, among other things, that such non-U.S. holder is not a United States person (within the meaning of the Code). Applicable Treasury regulations provide alternative methods for satisfying this requirement. In addition, the amount of dividends on common shares paid to a non-U.S. holder, and the amount of any U.S. federal tax withheld therefrom, must be annually reported to the IRS and the holder. This information may be made available by the IRS under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides.

Payment of the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of common shares to or through a non-U.S. office of a U.S. broker or of a non-U.S. broker with certain specified U.S. connections generally will be subject to information reporting requirements, but not backup withholding, unless the non-U.S. holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person or an exemption otherwise applies. Payments of the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of common shares to or through a U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding, unless the non-U.S. holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person or otherwise establishes an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment generally will be allowed as a credit against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Other Tax Considerations

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of REITs may be modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time. The REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the Treasury, which review may result in statutory changes as well as revisions to regulations and interpretations. Changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our common shares.

Medicare 3.8% Tax on Investment Income

Certain U.S. shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on dividends and certain other investment income, including capital gains from the sale or other disposition of our common shares.

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Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Recently enacted legislation and existing guidance issued thereunder requires withholding at a rate of 30% on dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale of, our common shares held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in the institution held by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations or other guidance may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our common shares is held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of, and gross proceeds from the sale of, our common shares held by an investor that is a nonfinancial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies to us that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which we will in turn provide to the IRS. We will not pay any additional amounts to shareholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Non-U.S. shareholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of the legislation on their investment in our common shares.

State, Local and Foreign Taxes

We and our subsidiaries and shareholders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxation in various jurisdictions including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. Our state, local or foreign tax treatment and that of our shareholders may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment discussed above. Any foreign taxes that we incur do not pass through to shareholders as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state, local and foreign income and other tax laws on an investment in our common shares.

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POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES

The following is a discussion of our investment, financing and other policies that we will adopt before this offering is consummated. We intend to conduct our business in a manner such that we are not treated as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act. In addition, once we elect and qualify to be taxed as a REIT, we intend to conduct our business in a manner that is consistent with maintaining our qualification to be taxed as a REIT. These policies may be amended or revised from time to time at the discretion of our board of directors without a vote of our shareholders.

Investment Policies

Investment in Real Estate or Interests in Real Estate

Our business has been and continues to be one that focuses on originating, servicing and managing a portfolio of funding short-term loans secured by first mortgages on residential and commercial real estate located primarily Connecticut as well as in certain other states located in the Northeast, such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York. Direct investment in real estate is not our primary focus. Any decision to invest in real estate or to purchase an interest in real estate outside of our core business would only be undertaken with the approval of our board of directors.

Securities of or Interests in Persons Primarily Engaged in Real Estate Activities

We have not, nor do we currently intend, to purchase securities of or interests in entities that are engaged in real estate activities. In any event, because we must comply with various requirements under the Code in order to maintain our qualification to be taxed as a REIT, including restrictions on the types of assets we may hold, the sources of our income and accumulation of earnings and profits, and because we want to avoid being characterized as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our ability to engage in these types of transactions, such as acquisitions of C corporations, may be limited. Accordingly, any decision to purchase securities of or interests in entities that are engaged in real estate activities would require the approval of our board of directors.

Financing and Leverage Policy

We intend, when appropriate, to employ leverage and to use debt as a means to provide additional funds to expand and broaden our mortgage loan portfolio, fund distributions to our shareholders, to engage in other permitted activities and for general corporate purposes. Neither our certificate of incorporation, as amended, nor our bylaws limit the amount or percentage of indebtedness that we may incur, nor have we adopted any policies addressing these issues. At June 30, 2016, debt proceeds represented 21.8% of our total capital. However, in order to grow the business and satisfy the requirement to pay out 90% of net profits, we expect to increase our level of debt over time to approximately 50% of capital. Any financing transaction would likely be in the form of a credit facility, such as a revolving line of credit similar to our existing Bankwell Credit Line. However, under the terms of the agreement governing the Bankwell Credit Line, we are prohibited from incurring any other funded indebtedness. Any credit facility would be secured by all or a portion of our loan portfolio since it is our major asset. We do not have any intention at the present time to sell all or a portion of our loan portfolio. The decision to use leverage and the appropriate level of leverage will be made by our board of directors based on its assessment of a variety of factors, including our historical and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, financing covenants, the cash flow generation capability of assets, the availability of credit on favorable terms, our outlook for borrowing costs relative to the unlevered yields on our assets, maintenance of our REIT qualification, applicable law and other factors. Our decision to use leverage will not be subject to the approval of our shareholders and there are no restrictions in our governing documents in the amount of leverage that we may use.

Lending Policies

Real estate lending is our business and our current intention is to continue to focus exclusively on making short-term loans secured by first mortgage liens against residential and commercial real property located primarily in Connecticut as well as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York. Our intent is to continue to focus primarily on the Connecticut market, which we believe presents many opportunities for a company like us that specializes in relatively small, secured real estate loans and we do not feel it is necessary for us to expand into other geographic markets at this time. Similarly, we intend to

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continue to focus only on lending opportunities that will be secured by first mortgage liens. We have no interest in funding mezzanine or subordinated debt and certainly not unsecured debt. Any change in our lending policy would require the approval of our board of directors.

Our co-chief executive officers have final and absolute authority over all lending decisions and wide latitude to set the terms of each particular loan. The only limitations on their authority will be the following:

(i) all loans must be secured by a first mortgage lien on real property and be collaterally secured by a personal guarantee of the principals of the borrower and a pledge of such principal’s equity interest in the borrower;
(ii) the borrower may not be the owner-occupant of the property securing the loan;
(iii) the loan-to-value ratio may not exceed 65%, determined as follows:
(a) with respect to loans having an original principal amount of less than $500,000, value shall be determined by such data and such other information as the co-chief executive officers shall determine in their reasonable discretion;
(b) with respect to loans having an original principal amount of $500,000 or more, value shall be determined by a formal, written real estate appraisal performed by an independent real estate appraiser; and
(c) subject to subparagraphs (a) and (b) above, in the case of construction loans, the value shall be the projected post-construction value of the property;
(iv) the original principal amount of any single loan may not exceed 10% of the total amount of our loan portfolio as of the date of the loan after taking into account the principal amount of the loan in question;
(v) the aggregate amount of all loans made to a single borrower or a group of related borrowers may not exceed 10% of the total outstanding principal amount of our loan portfolio; and
(vi) we may not make any loans to a related party unless (a) the terms of such loan are on terms no less favorable to us than if such loan were made to an unrelated third party and (b) the loan has been approved by a majority of our directors who are not related to or affiliated with the borrower. For this purpose, a related party includes our officers and directors and their respective spouses, siblings, lineal descendants and ancestors and any legal entities in which they own or control or have the right to own or control 20% or more of the equity interests in such entity.

Any loan that fails to comply with any of the foregoing policies may not be funded unless it has been approved by a simple majority of our board of directors.

Policies with Respect to Other Activities

We have the authority to issue debt securities, including senior securities, offer common shares, preferred shares or options to purchase shares in exchange for property and to repurchase or otherwise reacquire our common shares or other securities in the open market or otherwise, and we may engage in such activities in the future. Our board of directors has the authority, without further shareholder approval, to authorize us to issue additional common shares or preferred shares, in one or more series, including senior securities, in any manner, and on the terms and for the consideration, it deems appropriate, subject to applicable laws and regulations. See “Description of Securities.” We have not engaged in trading, underwriting or agency distribution or sale of securities of other issuers and do not intend to do so. Any decision to raise capital through the sale of equity or debt securities and any decision to repurchase common shares requires the approval of our board of directors.

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Conflict of Interest Policies

We have adopted certain policies that are designed to eliminate or minimize certain potential conflicts of interest. We have also adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that is designed to promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between our employees, officers and directors and our company. However, we cannot assure you that these policies, our Code of Ethics, or provisions of law will always be successful in eliminating the influence of such conflicts, and, if they are not successful, decisions could be made that might fail to reflect fully the interests of all shareholders.

Reporting Policies

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Pursuant to these requirements, we are required to file, and have filed, annual and other periodic reports, current reports, proxy statements and other information, including audited financial statements, with the SEC. They are also available on our corporate web site, www.sachemcapitalpartners.com , as well as the SEC website, www.sec.gov .

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UNDERWRITING

Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC is acting as the representative of the underwriters of the offering. We have entered into an underwriting agreement dated            , 2016 with the representative. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to each underwriter named below and each underwriter named below has severally and not jointly agreed to purchase from us, at the public offering price per share less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of common shares listed next to its name in the following table:

 
Underwriter   Number of Shares
Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC               
Total         

The underwriters are committed to purchase all the common shares offered by us other than those covered by the option to purchase additional shares described below, if they purchase any shares. The obligations of the underwriters may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the underwriting agreement. Furthermore, pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the underwriters’ obligations are subject to customary conditions, representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, such as receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Over-allotment Option .  We have granted the representative an over-allotment option. This option, which is exercisable for up to 45 days after the date of this prospectus, permits the representative to purchase a maximum of      additional shares (15% of the shares sold in this offering) from us to cover over-allotments, if any. If the representative exercises all or part of this option, it will purchase shares covered by the option at the public offering price per share that appears on the cover page of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount. If this option is exercised in full, the total offering price to the public will be $     and the total net proceeds, before expenses, to us will be $    .

Discount .  The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds, before expenses, to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the representative of the over-allotment option.

     
  Per Share   Total Without
Over-Allotment
Option
  Total With
Over-Allotment Option
Public offering price   $          $          $       
Underwriting discount (7%)   $     $     $  
Non-accountable expense allowance (1%) (1)   $     $     $  
Proceeds, before expense, to us   $     $     $  

(1) Non-accountable expense allowance will not be payable with respect to any shares sold pursuant to the representative’s exercise of the over-allotment option.

The underwriters propose to offer the shares offered by us to the public at the public offering price per share set forth on the cover of this prospectus. In addition, the underwriters may offer some of the shares to other securities dealers at such price less a concession of up to $     per share. If all of the shares offered by us are not sold at the public offering price per share, the underwriters may change the offering price per share and other selling terms by means of a supplement to this prospectus.

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We have paid an aggregate expense deposit of $25,000 to the representative for out-of-pocket-accountable expenses, which will be applied against accountable expenses that will be paid by us to the underwriters in connection with this offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(C). The underwriting agreement, however, provides that in the event the offering is terminated, the $25,000 expense deposit paid to the representative will be returned to the extent such out-of-pocket accountable expenses are not actually incurred in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(C).

In addition to the 1% non-accountable expense allowance, we have also agreed to pay the underwriters’ expenses relating to the offering, including (a) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of our officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per individual and $15,000 in the aggregate; (b) all filing fees incurred in clearing this offering with FINRA; (c) payment of up to $5,000 for “blue-sky” counsel; (d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of securities offered under the securities laws of foreign jurisdictions as reasonably designated by the underwriters; (e) the cost of commemorative mementos and lucite tombstones up to $5,000; (f) the fees and expenses of underwriters’ counsel not to exceed $50,000; (g) $29,500 for the cost incurred by the underwriters for use of Ipreo’s book-building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for this offering; and (h) up to $20,000 of the representative’s actual accountable road show expenses for the offering.

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the total underwriting discount, will be approximately $    .

Discretionary Accounts .  The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the securities offered hereby to any accounts over which they have discretionary authority.

Lock-Up Agreements .  We, our directors and executive officers and our pre-offering shareholders expect to enter into lock up agreements with the representative prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities will agree that, during the Lock-Up Period (as defined below), without the prior written consent of the representative, they will not (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common shares owned or acquired on or prior to the closing date of this offering (including any common shares acquired after the closing date of this offering upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of such securities); (2) file or caused to be filed any registration statement relating to the offering of any shares of our capital shares; or (3) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of common shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1), (2) or (3) above is to be settled by delivery of shares common shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except for certain exceptions and limitations. The Lock-Up Period will be 12 months from the date of this prospectus for us, our officers and directors and six months from the date of this prospectus for our other pre-offering shareholders.

The lock-up period described in the preceding paragraphs will be automatically extended if: (1) during the last 17 days of the restricted period, we issue an earnings release or announce material news or a material event; or (2) prior to the expiration of the lock-up period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the lock-up period, in which case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the earnings release.

Representative’s Warrants .  We have agreed to issue to the representative warrants to purchase up to a total of      common shares (5% of the common shares sold in this offering, excluding the over-allotment). The warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four-year period commencing one year from the effective date of the offering, which period shall not extend further than five years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i). The warrants are exercisable at a per share price equal to 125% of the public offering price per share in the offering. The warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA. The representative (or permitted assignees under Rule 5110(g)(1)) will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate these warrants or the securities underlying these warrants, nor will they engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction

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that would result in the effective economic disposition of the warrants or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days from the effective date of the offering. In addition, the warrants provide for registration rights upon request, in certain cases. The demand registration right provided will not be greater than five years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(iv). The piggyback registration right provided will not be greater than seven years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(v). We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities issuable on exercise of the warrants other than underwriting commissions incurred and payable by the holders. The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrant exercise price or underlying shares will not be adjusted for issuances of common shares at a price below the warrant exercise price.

Right of First Refusal .  Subject to certain limited exceptions, until 24 months after the effective date of the offering, the representative has a right of first refusal to act as our sole investment banker, sole book runner and/or sole placement agent for each and every future public or private equity and debt offering, including all equity-linked offerings, by us, or any of our successors or subsidiaries during such 24-month period on terms customary to the representative.

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Securities .  A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representative may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.

Determination of the Initial Public Offering Price .  Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common shares. The initial public offering price was determined through negotiations between us and the representative of the underwriters. In addition to prevailing market conditions, the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price included the following:

the information included in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representative;
the valuation multiples of publicly traded companies that the representative believes to be comparable to us;
our financial information;
our prospects and the history and the prospects of the industry in which we compete;
an assessment of our management, its past and present operations, and the prospects for, and timing of, our future revenues; and
the above factors in relation to market values and various valuation measures of other companies engaged in activities similar to ours.

An active trading market for our common shares may not develop. It is also possible that, after the offering, the shares will not trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

Stabilization .  In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate-covering transactions, penalty bids and purchases to cover positions created by short sales.

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase shares so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum, and are engaged in for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the shares while the offering is in progress.

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Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriters of shares in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase. This creates a syndicate short position that may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of shares covered by the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares covered by the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any short position with shares issuable upon exercise of the over-allotment option and/or purchasing shares in the open market.
Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of shares in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared with the price at which they may purchase shares through exercise of the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more shares than could be covered by exercise of the over-allotment option and, therefore, have a naked short position, the position can be closed out only by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that after pricing there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the shares originally sold by that syndicate member are purchased in stabilizing or syndicate covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common shares or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common shares. As a result, the price of our common shares in the open market may be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common shares. These transactions may be effected on the NASDAQ Capital Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Passive market making .  In connection with this offering, underwriters and selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in our common shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market or on the OTC QB in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of the shares and extending through the completion of the distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, then that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

Offer Restrictions Outside the United States

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Australia

This prospectus is not a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act, has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act.

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Accordingly, (i) the offer of the securities under this prospectus is only made to persons to whom it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act under one or more exemptions set out in section 708 of the Australian Corporations Act, (ii) this prospectus is made available in Australia only to those persons as set forth in clause (i) above, and (iii) the offeree must be sent a notice stating in substance that by accepting this offer, the offeree represents that the offeree is such a person as set forth in clause (i) above, and, unless permitted under the Australian Corporations Act, agrees not to sell or offer for sale within Australia any of the securities sold to the offeree within 12 months after its transfer for the offeree under this prospectus.

Canada

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws. Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor. Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

China

The information in this document does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the People’s Republic of China (excluding, for purposes of this paragraph, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). The securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to legal or natural persons other than directly to “qualified domestic institutional investors.”

European Economic Area — Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands

The information in this document has been prepared on the basis that all offers of common shares will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Directive 2003/71/EC (“Prospectus Directive”), as implemented in Member States of the European Economic Area (each, a “Relevant Member State”), from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.

An offer to the public of common shares has not been made, and may not be made, in a Relevant Member State except pursuant to one of the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive as implemented in that Relevant Member State:

to legal entities that are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;
to any legal entity that has two or more of (i) an average of at least 250 employees during its last fiscal year; (ii) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statements) and (iii) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statement);
to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)I of the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the company or any underwriter for any such offer; or
in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of common shares shall result in a requirement for the publication by the company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

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France

This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offering of financial securities ( offre au public de titres financiers ) in France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code ( Code monétaire et financier ) and Articles 211-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”). The common shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.

This document and any other offering material relating to the common shares has not been, and will not be, submitted to the AMF for approval in France and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to be distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.

Such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors ( investisseurs qualifiés ) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2 and D.411-1 to D.411-3, D. 744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation and/or (ii) a restricted number of non-qualified investors ( cercle restreint d’investisseurs non-qualifiés ) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-4, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation.

Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the General Regulation of the AMF, investors in France are informed that the common shares cannot be distributed (directly or indirectly) to the public by the investors otherwise than in accordance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

Ireland

The information in this document does not constitute a prospectus under any Irish laws or regulations and this document has not been filed with or approved by any Irish regulatory authority as the information has not been prepared in the context of a public offering of securities in Ireland within the meaning of the Irish Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the “Prospectus Regulations”). The common shares have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectly in Ireland by way of a public offering, except to (i) qualified investors as defined in Regulation 2(l) of the Prospectus Regulations and (ii) fewer than 100 natural or legal persons who are not qualified investors.

Israel

The common shares offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Israeli Securities Authority (the ISA), nor has it been registered for sale in Israel. The shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Israel, absent the publication of a prospectus. The ISA has not issued permits, approvals or licenses in connection with the offering or publishing the prospectus; nor has it authenticated the details included herein, confirmed their reliability or completeness, or rendered an opinion as to the quality of the common shares being offered. Any resale in Israel, directly or indirectly, to the public of the common shares offered by this prospectus is subject to restrictions on transferability and must be effected only in compliance with the Israeli securities laws and regulations.

Italy

The offering of the common shares in the Republic of Italy has not been authorized by the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission ( Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa , “ CONSOB ”) pursuant to the Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no offering material relating to the common shares may be distributed in Italy and such securities may not be offered or sold in Italy in a public offer within the meaning of Article 1.1(t) of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998 (“Decree No. 58”), other than:

to Italian qualified investors, as defined in Article 100 of Decree no. 58 by reference to Article 34-ter of CONSOB Regulation no. 11971 of 14 May 1999 (“Regulation no. 1197l”) as amended (“Qualified Investors”); and
in other circumstances that are exempt from the rules on public offer pursuant to Article 100 of Decree No. 58 and Article 34-ter of Regulation No. 11971 as amended.

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Any offer, sale or delivery of the common shares or distribution of any offer document relating to the common shares in Italy (excluding placements where a Qualified Investor solicits an offer from the issuer) under the paragraphs above must be:

made by investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993 (as amended), Decree No. 58, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of 29 October 2007 and any other applicable laws; and
in compliance with all relevant Italian securities, tax and exchange controls and any other applicable laws.

Any subsequent distribution of the common shares in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and the Regulation No. 11971 as amended, unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such common shares being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the common shares for any damages suffered by the investors.

Japan

The common shares have not been and will not be registered under Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948), as amended (the “FIEL”) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements applicable to a private placement of securities to Qualified Institutional Investors (as defined in and in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3 of the FIEL and the regulations promulgated thereunder). Accordingly, the common shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan other than Qualified Institutional Investors. Any Qualified Institutional Investor who acquires common shares may not resell them to any person in Japan that is not a Qualified Institutional Investor, and acquisition by any such person of common shares is conditional upon the execution of an agreement to that effect.

Portugal

This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offer of financial securities ( oferta púbica de valores mobiliários ) in Portugal, within the meaning of Article 109 of the Portuguese Securities Code ( Código dos Valores Mobiliários ). The common shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal. This document and any other offering material relating to the common shares has not been, and will not be, submitted to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission ( Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários ) for approval in Portugal and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to qualify as a public offer under the Portuguese Securities Code. Such offers, sales and distributions of common shares in Portugal are limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Portuguese Securities Code). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.

Sweden

This document has not been, and will not be, registered with or approved by Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority). Accordingly, this document may not be made available, nor may the common shares be offered for sale in Sweden, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to require a prospectus under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980) (Sw. lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument ). Any offering of common shares in Sweden is limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Financial Instruments Trading Act). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.

Switzerland

The common shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in

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Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the common shares may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the common shares has been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of common shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

This document is personal to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.

United Arab Emirates

Neither this document nor the common shares have been approved, disapproved or passed on in any way by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates, nor have we received authorization or licensing from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell the common shares within the United Arab Emirates. This document does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of an offer or invitation. No services relating to the common shares, including the receipt of applications and/or the allotment or redemption of such shares, may be rendered within the United Arab Emirates by us.

No offer or invitation to subscribe for common shares is valid or permitted in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

United Kingdom

Neither the information in this document nor any other document relating to the offer has been delivered for approval to the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom and no prospectus (within the meaning of section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) has been published or is intended to be published in respect of the common shares. This document is issued on a confidential basis to “qualified investors” (within the meaning of section 86(7) of FSMA) in the United Kingdom, and the common shares may not be offered or sold in the United Kingdom by means of this document, any accompanying letter or any other document, except in circumstances that do not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to section 86(1) FSMA. This document should not be distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part, nor may its contents be disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom.

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) received in connection with the issue or sale of the common shares has only been communicated or caused to be communicated and will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in the United Kingdom in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to us.

In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed at, persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (“FPO”), (ii) who fall within the categories of persons referred to in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the FPO or (iii) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (together “relevant persons”). The investments to which this document relates are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of the shares offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Morse, Zelnick, Rose and Lander LLP, New York, New York. The partners of Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander, LLP own, in the aggregate, 80,000 common shares. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Blank Rome LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Our financial statements as of, and for each of the years ended, December 31, 2014 and 2015 have been so included in reliance on the report of Hoberman & Lesser, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, included in this prospectus given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-11 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of shares offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information about us and our shares offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed thereto. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other material with the SEC. You may read and copy our reports, proxy statements and other information, including the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference rooms by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov .

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SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
 
INDEX TO HISTORICAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
  Page
Number
Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, Financial Statements:
        
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm     F-2  
Balance Sheets at June 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015 and 2014 (audited)     F-3  
Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited) and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (audited)     F-4  
Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited) and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (audited)     F-5  
Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited) and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (audited)     F-6  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements     F-8  

INDEX TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Members
Sachem Capital Partners, LLC

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Sachem Capital Partners, LLC as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statements of operations, members’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. Sachem Capital Partners, LLC’s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sachem Capital Partners, LLC as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

[GRAPHIC MISSING]  
 
Hoberman & Lesser, CPA’s, LLP

New York, New York
August 9, 2016

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
BALANCE SHEETS

       
  June 30,
(Unaudited)
  December 31,
(Audited)
     2016   2015   2015   2014
Assets
                                   
Cash   $ 1,472,602     $ 1,986,398     $ 1,834,082     $ 5,874,921  
Mortgages receivable     29,018,954       20,008,028       26,017,867       14,092,019  
Mortgages receivable, affiliate     1,376,522       757,000       1,515,000       757,000  
Interest and fees receivable     371,035       221,701       265,492       142,974  
Other receivables     142,306             17,500        
Due from borrowers     49,607       37,106       60,499       107,523  
Real estate owned     1,152,783             1,001,054       427,298  
Pre-offering costs     169,750       20,000       45,000        
Deferred financing costs     79,486       40,375       38,992       53,833  
Escrow deposits     259,000                    
Total assets   $ 34,092,045     $ 23,070,608     $ 30,795,486     $ 21,455,568  
Liabilities and Members’ Equity
                                   
Liabilities
                                   
Line of credit   $ 7,275,000     $ 3,350,000     $ 6,000,000     $ 5,000,000  
Advances from borrowers     198,058       83,035       107,714       77,990  
Due to member     350,905       138,308       230,409       141,504  
Deferred revenue     189,372       147,606       190,017       118,718  
Accrued interest     23,418       24,868       37,829       13,281  
Total liabilities     8,036,753       3,743,817       6,565,969       5,351,493  
Members’ equity     26,055,292       19,326,791       24,229,517       16,104,075  
Total liabilities and members’ equity   $ 34,092,045     $ 23,070,608     $ 30,795,486     $ 21,455,568  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

       
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Unaudited)
  Years Ended
December 31,
(Audited)
     2016   2015   2015   2014
Revenue
                                   
Interest income from loans   $ 1,735,200     $ 915,894     $ 2,477,876     $ 1,418,814  
Origination fees, net     95,143       58,463       108,385       67,929  
Late and other fees     101,306       28,545       144,813       43,189  
Processing fees     26,985       29,250       55,650       29,475  
Other income     10,478                    
Rental income     4,579                    
Total revenue     1,973,691       1,032,152       2,786,724       1,559,407  
Operating costs and expenses:
                                   
Interest and amortization of deferred financing costs     221,692       70,019       221,698       13,281  
Compensation to manager     152,517       77,036       210,407       75,895  
Professional fees     24,743       1,250       2,250        
Other fees and taxes     22,388       11,593       5,093       251  
Loss on sale of real estate           5,476       5,476        
Bank fees                 34,897       168  
Total operating costs and expenses     421,340       165,374       479,821       89,595  
NET INCOME   $ 1,552,351     $ 866,778     $ 2,306,903     $ 1,469,812  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS’ EQUITY

       
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Unaudited)
  Years Ended
December 31,
(Audited)
     2016   2015   2015   2014
MEMBERS’ EQUITY, BEGINNING OF YEAR   $ 24,229,517     $ 16,104,075     $ 16,104,075     $ 10,941,911  
NET INCOME     1,552,351       866,778       2,306,903       1,469,812  
Members’ Contributions     2,516,714       2,671,943       7,214,754       4,328,994  
Members’ Distributions     (2,243,290 )       (316,005 )       (1,396,215 )       (636,642 )  
MEMBERS’ EQUITY, END OF PERIOD   $ 26,055,292     $ 19,326,791     $ 24,229,517     $ 16,104,075  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

       
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Unaudited)
  Years Ended
December 31,
(Audited)
     2016   2015   2015   2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                                   
Net income   $ 1,552,351     $ 866,778     $ 2,306,903     $ 1,469,812  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                                   
Amortization of deferred financing costs     24,556       13,458       26,916        
Loss on sale of real estate           5,476       5,476        
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                                   
(Increase) decrease in:
                                   
Interest and fees receivable     (105,543 )       (78,727 )       (207,098 )       (110,454 )  
Other receivables     (34,759 )             (17,500 )        
(Decrease) increase in:
                                   
Due to member     163,441       67,221       135,929       33,981  
Accrued interest     (14,411 )       11,587       24,548       13,281  
Deferred revenue     (645 )       28,888       71,299       26,442  
Advances from borrowers     90,344       5,045       29,724       31,451  
Due from borrowers     (49,607 )                    
Total adjustments     73,376       52,948       69,294       (5,299 )  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES     1,625,727       919,726       2,376,197       1,464,513  
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                                   
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned     229,141       421,822       421,822        
Acquisitions to and improvements of real estate owned     (560,861 )                    
Escrow deposit     (259,000 )                    
Principal disbursements for mortgages receivable     (9,108,259 )       (8,835,028 )       (19,412,438 )       (8,864,700 )  
Principal collections on mortgages receivable     6,353,148       2,919,019       5,812,116       3,714,059  
NET CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES     (3,345,831 )       (5,494,187 )       (13,178,500 )       (5,150,641 )  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – (continued)

       
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
(Unaudited)
  Years Ended
December 31,
(Audited)
     2016   2015   2015   2014
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                                   
Proceeds from line of credit   $ 4,175,000     $ 2,850,000     $ 6,000,000     $ 5,000,000  
Repayment of line of credit     (2,900,000 )       (4,500,000 )       (5,000,000 )        
Pre-offering costs incurred     (124,750 )       (20,000 )       (45,000 )        
Financing costs incurred     (65,050 )             (12,075 )       (53,833 )  
Member contributions     2,516,714       2,671,943       7,214,754       4,328,994  
Member distributions     (2,243,290 )       (316,005 )       (1,396,215 )       (636,642 )  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES     1,358,624       685,938       6,761,464       8,638,519  
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN
CASH
    (361,480 )       (3,888,523 )       (4,040,839 )       4,952,391  
CASH – BEGINNING OF YEAR     1,834,082       5,874,921       5,874,921       922,530  
CASH – END OF PERIOD   $ 1,472,602     $ 1,986,398     $ 1,834,082     $ 5,874,921  
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION
                                   
Interest paid   $ 211,547     $ 44,974     $ 170,234     $  

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES

During the year ended December 31, 2015, $916,474 of mortgages receivable, $77,484 of accrued interest receivable and $7,096 of late fees receivable were converted to real estate owned.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, proceeds in the amount of $94,943, from the sale of real estate, were paid directly to the managing member at closing, for amounts due to the member.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, $368,000 of mortgages receivable, $53,613 of accrued interest receivable and $5,685 of late fees receivable were converted to real estate owned.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company is obligated for the repayment of certain expenses paid by the managing member on behalf of the Company for certain borrowers in the amount of $60,499 and $107,523, respectively.

As of June 30, 2015, the Company is obligated for the repayment of certain expenses paid by the managing member on behalf of the Company for certain borrowers in the amount of $37,106.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016, certain real estate held for sale in the amount of $107,498 was converted to mortgages receivable.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. The Company

Sachem Capital Partners, LLC (the “Company”) is a Connecticut limited liability company located in Branford, Connecticut, which commenced operations on December 8, 2010, with the intent to exist in perpetuity. The Company specializes in originating, underwriting, funding, servicing and managing a portfolio of first mortgage loans. We offer short-term (i.e. three years or less) secured, non-banking loans (sometimes referred to as “hard money” loans) to real estate investors to fund their acquisition, renovation, development, rehabilitation or improvement of properties located primarily in Connecticut. We do not lend to owner-occupants. The Company’s primary underwriting criteria is a conservative loan-to-value ratio. In addition, the Company may make opportunistic real estate purchases apart from its lending activities. The Company is managed by JJV, LLC (the “Manager”), a Connecticut limited liability company and related party.

The properties securing our loans are generally classified as residential or commercial real estate and, typically, are held for resale or investment. Each loan is secured by a first mortgage lien on real estate and is also personally guaranteed by the principal(s) of the borrower, which guaranty may be collaterally secured by a pledge of the guarantor’s interest in the borrower.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Unaudited Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited financial statements of the Company for the six month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be attained in the entire fiscal year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management will base the use of estimates on (a) various assumptions that take into account its past experience, (b) the Company’s projections regarding future operations, and (c) general financial market and local and general economic conditions. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and mortgage loans. The Company maintains its cash with one major financial institution. Accounts at the financial institution are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000.

Credit risks associated with the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio and related interest receivables are described in Note 3 entitled “Mortgages Receivable.”

Income Taxes

The Company is not a taxpaying entity for federal and state income tax purposes, and thus no income tax expense has been recorded in the financial statements. The income or loss of the Company is taxed to the members on their respective income tax returns.

The Company has adopted the provisions of FASB ASC topic 740-10 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”. The standard prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosure required. Under this standard, an entity may only recognize or continue to recognize tax positions

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2. Significant Accounting Policies - (continued)

that meet a “more likely than not” threshold. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense. The Company has determined that there are no uncertain tax positions requiring accrual or disclosure in the accompanying financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016.

The Company’s Federal and State Partnership tax returns for years prior to 2012 are no longer subject to examination by the taxing authorities.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with ASC 605, which provides guidance on the recognition, presentation and disclosure of revenue in financial statements. ASC 605 outlines the basic criteria that must be met to recognize revenue and provides guidance for disclosure related to revenue recognition policies. In general, the Company recognizes revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery of the product has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the sales price charged is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

Interest income from the Company’s loan portfolio is earned, over the loan period and is calculated using the simple-interest method on principal amounts outstanding. Generally, the Company’s loans provide for interest to be paid monthly in arrears.

Origination fee revenue is recognized as an adjustment to origination fee income ratably over the contractual life of the loan in accordance with ASC 310.

Deferred Financing Costs

Costs incurred in connection with the Company’s line of credit, as discussed in Note 5, are amortized over the term of the line of credit, using the straight-line method.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For the line of credit and interest bearing mortgages receivable held by the Company, the carrying amount approximates fair value due to the relative short-term nature of such instruments.

Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated subsequent events through October 19, 2016, the date on which the financial statements were available to be issued. Based on the evaluation no adjustments were required in the accompanying financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, “Interest — Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of Credit Arrangements — Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting” . The ASU incorporates the SEC staff’s announcement that clarifies the exclusion of line-of-credit arrangements from the scope of ASU 2015-03. Therefore, debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements can be deferred and presented as an asset that is subsequently amortized over the time of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The ASU should be adopted concurrent with adoption of ASU 2015-03. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, “ Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes ”. The ASU simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring deferred tax liabilities and assets to be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. This Update will align the presentation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For public business entities, the ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. For all other entities, the

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2. Significant Accounting Policies - (continued)

ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “ Financial Instruments — Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ”. The ASU intends to provide users of financial statements with more useful information on the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. For public business entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for certain provisions. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “ Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses of Financial Instruments ”. The ASU aligns the accounting and economics of lending by requiring banks and other lending institutions to immediately record the full amount of credit losses that are expected in their loan portfolios, providing investors with better information about those losses on a more timely basis. For public business entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. For all other entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption will be permitted for all organizations for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments — a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force.” The ASU is to amend ASC 230 to add or clarify guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. For public business entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effected, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

3. Mortgages Receivable

Mortgages Receivable

The Company offers secured non-banking loans to real estate investors (also known as hard money loans) to fund their acquisition and construction of properties located mainly in Connecticut. The loans are principally secured by first mortgages on real estate and, generally, are also personally guaranteed by the borrower or its principals. The loans are generally for a term of three years. The loans are initially recorded and carried thereafter, in the financial statements, at cost. Most of the loans provide for monthly payments of interest only (in arrears) during the term of the loan and a “balloon” payment of the principal on the maturity date.

For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the aggregate amount of loans funded by the Company was $9,108,259 and $8,835,028, respectively, offset by principal repayments of $6,353,148 and $2,919,019, respectively.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. Mortgages Receivable - (continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate amount of loans funded by the Company was $19,412,438 and $8,864,700, respectively, offset by principal repayments of $5,812,116 and $3,714,059, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company closed loans ranging in size from $20,000 to $1,700,000 with stated interest rates ranging from 9% to 12% and a default rate for non-payment of 18%.

At June 30, 2016 and 2015 and December 31, 2015 and 2014, no single borrower had loans outstanding representing more than 10% of the total balance of the loans outstanding.

The Company uses its Manager, outside counsel and other independent professionals to verify titles and ownership, to file liens and to consummate transactions. Independent appraisers are also used to value the real estate underlying the mortgages. To date, the Company has only experienced one default, which resulted in a $5,476 loss upon foreclosure and subsequent sale. Nevertheless, no assurances can be given that existing or future loans may not go into default or prove to be non-collectible in the future.

The Company generally grants loans for a term of one to three years. In some cases, the Company has agreed to extend the term of the loans. This was mainly due to the additional lending conditions generally imposed by traditional lenders and financial institutions as a result of The Dodd-Frank Act, which has made it more difficult overall for borrowers, including the Company’s borrowers, to secure long term financing. However, prior to granting an extension, the loan is required to undergo the underwriting process.

Credit Risk

Credit risk profile based on loan activity as of June 30, 2016, June 30, 2015, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

         
Performing loans   Residential   Commercial   Land   Mixed Used   Total
Outstanding
Mortgages
June 30, 2016   $ 21,258,849     $ 6,263,296     $ 2,337,813     $ 535,518     $ 30,395,476  
June 30, 2015   $ 15,475,268     $ 3,235,311     $ 1,687,449     $ 367,000     $ 20,765,028  
December 31, 2015   $ 18,820,509     $ 5,712,566     $ 2,619,792     $ 380,000     $ 27,532,867  
December 31, 2014   $ 10,482,448     $ 3,369,620     $ 649,951     $ 347,000     $ 14,849,019  

As of December 31, 2015, the following is the maturities of mortgages receivable for the years ending December 31,:

 
2016   $ 8,770,514  
2017     7,986,392  
2018     10,383,568  
2019     392,393  
Total   $ 27,532,867  

4. Real Estate Owned

Property purchased for rental or acquired through foreclosure are included on the balance sheet as real estate owned.

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, real estate owned totaled $1,152,783 and $1,001,054, respectively, with no valuation allowance. As of June 30, 2016, real estate owned included $639,657 of real estate held for rental and $513,126 of real estate held for sale. As of December 31, 2015, all of the real estate owned was held for sale.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4. Real Estate Owned - (continued)

One of the properties held for rental as of June 30, 2016, in the amount of approximately $395,000, contains an option for the lessee to purchase the property for $400,000 through March, 2019. The lease provides for rental payments of $4,250 for the period June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2019. The lease for the other property held for rental as of June 30, 2016, provides for monthly rent of $1,375 commencing June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017.

As of December 31, 2014, real estate owned, all of which was held for sale, totaled $427,298 with no valuation allowance. This property was sold during the year ended December 31, 2015 at a loss of $5,476.

5. Other Receivables

In June and July, 2016, the Company sold two properties which were obtained through foreclosure. Both original mortgages receivable were with the same borrower and were collateralized by property owned by a relative of the borrower. The proceeds from the sale of both properties in the aggregate were $142,306 less than the carrying value of the properties, previously reflected in real estate owned. In connection with this transaction the Company had notified the guarantor for satisfaction of the obligation. Since the value of the collateral is in excess of the $142,306, the Company has reflected this amount as “other receivable” in the accompanying balance sheet as of June 30, 2016.

As of December 31, 2015, other receivables represented a refund which was subsequently received for costs associated with a financing arrangement.

6. Escrow Deposits

As of June 30, 2016, escrow deposits consist of the funding of mortgages or construction draw downs for which agreements have not been finalized.

7. Loans and Lines of Credit

Lines of Credit

On December 18, 2014, the Company entered into a two-year revolving Line of Credit Agreement with Bankwell Bank (the “Bank”) pursuant to which the Bank agreed to advance up to $5 million (the “Bankwell Credit Line”) against assignments of mortgages and other collateral requiring monthly payments of interest only. On December 30, 2015, the Bankwell Credit Line was amended to increase available borrowings to $7,000,000. On March 15, 2016, the Credit Line was amended again to increase available borrowings to $15,000,000. The interest rate on the Bankwell Credit Line is variable at 3% in excess of the Wall Street Journal prime rate (3.50% at June 30, 2016), but in no event less than 6.25%, per annum, on the money in use. The Bankwell Credit line expires on March 15, 2018, at which time the entire unpaid principal balance and any accrued and unpaid interest shall become due. The Company has the option to extend the term of the loan for the sole purpose of repaying the principal balance over a thirty-six month period in equal monthly installments. The Bankwell Credit Line is secured by substantially all Company assets and is subject to borrowing base limitations and financial covenants including, maintaining a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and maintaining minimum tangible net worth. In addition, among other things, provisions of the agreement prohibit Company merger, consolidation or disposal of assets or declaring and paying dividends in certain circumstances. The line is guaranteed by the Manager and its principals, who are principal members of the Company. The Manager and its principals are also required to maintain certain capital balances, and the Company is prohibited from ownership changes that would reduce their interests.

Financing costs incurred for the Bankwell Credit Line were approximately $65,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016, $12,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $54,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. These costs are being amortized over the life of the Bankwell Credit Line, using the straight-line method. The amortization costs for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and year ended

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7. Loans and Lines of Credit - (continued)

December 31, 2015 were $24,556 and $26,916, respectively. The amortization costs for the six months ended June 30, 2015 were $13,458. There were no amortization costs for the year ended December 31, 2014.

At June 30, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding amount under the Bankwell Credit Line was $7,275,000 and $3,350,000, respectively.

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the outstanding amount under the Bankwell Credit Line was $6,000,000 and $5,000,000, respectively.

8. Members’ Equity

Each Member has the right, upon at least ninety days prior written notice, to withdraw all or part of its capital twenty four months after the date of their initial investment. Distributions of the Company’s net profits are made on a monthly basis unless the Member chooses to re-invest their distributions. Pursuant to the Company’s Operating Agreement, if the Company does not receive a written request for a return of equity within the first twenty-four (24) months, the withdrawing member automatically renews for another twenty-four (24) month period, and so forth on a rolling twenty-four (24) month basis. The Company uses is best efforts to honor requests for return of equity, however, the Company has the ability, at its discretion, to refuse redemption requests if they are deemed to be deterimental to the Company. Additionally, the Company, at its discretion, may charge a 2.5% redemption fee to the withdrawing partner.

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Compensation to Manager

The Company’s operating agreement provides for the Manager to receive fees for various services performed for or on behalf of the Company. Per the operating agreement, the Manager may choose to defer all or a portion of these fees.

Loan Brokerage Commissions/Origination Fees Paid to Manager

Loan origination fees consist of points, generally 2%-5% of the original loan principal. Per the operating agreement, the Manager is entitled to 75% of loan origination fees. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, loan origination fees paid to the Manager were $244,152 and $299,779, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, loan origination fees paid to the Manager were $541,600 and $305,600, respectively. These payments are amortized over the life of the loan for financial statement purposes and recognized as a reduction of origination fee income.

Activity related to origination fees for the six months ended June 30, 2016 are as follows:

       
  Deferred
Revenue,
Beginning
  Gross
Origination
Fee Income
  Amortization
of Deferred
Revenue
  Deferred
Revenue,
Ending
Managers Share            $ 244,152                    
Company’s Share   $ 190,017     $ 94,498     $ 95,143     $ 189,372  
Total   $ 190,017     $ 338,650     $ 95,143     $ 189,372  

Activity related to origination fees for the six months ended June 30, 2015 are as follows:

       
  Deferred
Revenue,
Beginning
  Gross
Origination
Fee Income
  Amortization
of Deferred
Revenue
  Deferred
Revenue,
Ending
Managers Share            $ 299,779                    
Company’s Share   $ 118,718     $ 87,351     $ 58,463     $ 147,606  
Total   $ 118,718     $ 387,130     $ 58,463     $ 147,606  

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9. Commitments and Contingencies - (continued)

Activity related to origination fees for the year ended December 31, 2015 are as follows:

       
  Deferred
Revenue,
Beginning
  Gross
Origination
Fee Income
  Amortization
of Deferred
Revenue
  Deferred
Revenue,
Ending
Managers Share            $ 541,600                    
Company’s Share   $ 118,718     $ 179,684     $ 108,385     $ 190,017  
Total   $ 118,718     $ 721,284     $ 108,385     $ 190,017  

Activity related to origination fees for the year ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

       
  Deferred
Revenue,
Beginning
  Gross
Origination
Fee Income
  Amortization
of Deferred
Revenue
  Deferred
Revenue,
Ending
Managers Share            $ 305,600                    
Company’s Share   $ 92,276     $ 94,371     $ 67,929     $ 118,718  
Total   $ 92,276     $ 399,971     $ 67,929     $ 118,718  

Original maturities of deferred revenue are as follows as of:

 
December 31,
2016   $ 94,539  
2017     71,672  
2018     23,806  
Total   $ 190,017  

In instances in which mortgages are repaid before their maturity date, the balance of any unamortized deferred revenue is recognized in full.

Management Fees

The Company pays the Manager an annual management fee equal to one percent (1%) of the Company’s total assets. The management fee is payable monthly with each payment calculated as one-twelfth of one percent of the total assets of the Company as of the first of each month. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, as well as, the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Manager agreed to forego the management fees. These fees will not be collected at a future date, and no expenses were incurred during those periods.

Loan Servicing Fees

The Manager administers the servicing of the Company’s loan portfolio. At the Manager’s discretion, the loan servicing fee ranges from one-twelfth ( 1/12 th ) of one-half percent (.5%) to one percent (1%) of the Company’s loan portfolio, payable monthly and calculated based on total loans as of the first of each month. The percentage charged by the Manager was .5% through August, 2014, .75% through August, 2015 and 1% thereafter. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, loan servicing fees paid to the Manager were $139,723 and $77,036, respectively. For years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, loan servicing fees paid to the Manager were $164,583, and $70,849, respectively.

Other Manager Compensation

The Manager is also entitled to fees for other services performed such as inspection fees. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, fees paid to the Manager for such services were $12,794 and $0, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, fees payable to the Manager for such services were $45,824 and $0, respectively.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9. Commitments and Contingencies - (continued)

Unfunded Commitments

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company is committed to an additional $950,658 and $1,264,512, respectively, in construction loans that can be drawn by the borrower when certain conditions are met.

10. Related Party Transactions

The Manager is also a member in the Company. The Company uses facilities maintained by the Manager, who is responsible for paying rent and related overhead expenses, in exchange for compensation, as discussed in Note 9. The related compensation expense for the Manager for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $152,517 and $77,036, respectively. The related compensation expense for the Manager for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $210,407 and $75,895, respectively.

From time to time the Manager may acquire certain troubled assets from third parties who are not existing Company borrowers. The Manager has borrowed money from the Company to finance these arrangements. The real estate purchased is held by the Manager in trust for the Company. The Company accounts for these arrangements as separate loans to the Manager. The income earned on these loans is equivalent to the income earned on similar loans in the portfolio. All underwriting guidelines are adhered to. The mortgage documents allow the Manager to sell the properties in case of default with proceeds in excess of loan principal and accrued expense being returned to the borrower. During the six month periods ended June 30, 2016 and, 2015, the Company did not enter into any new loan agreements with the Manager. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company entered into one new loan agreement with the Manager in the amount of $800,000. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company entered into two new loan agreements with the manager in the aggregate amount of $439,500 and extended additional credit of $15,000 on an existing loan to the Manager. The principal balance of the loans to the Manager at June 30, 2016, June 30, 2015, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were $1,376,522, $757,000, $1,515,000 and $757,000, respectively.

During the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Manager was paid $244,152 and $299,779, respectively, related to origination fees. (See Note 9.) During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the manager was paid $541,600 and $305,600, respectively, related to origination fees. (See Note 9.)

During the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Manager paid the Company $81,224 and $37,445, respectively, of interest on borrowings from the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Manager paid $108,932 and $46,944, respectively, of interest on borrowings from the Company.

The Manager frequently pays for costs on behalf of the Company. These costs include insurance and real estate taxes where the Company has been notified that the borrower is in default, costs of any actions (i.e., foreclosures) commenced by the Company to enforce its rights or collect amounts due from borrowers who have defaulted on their obligations to the Company as well as other related costs that the Company deems appropriate in order to protects its interests. Unreimbursed costs paid by the Manager on behalf of the Company as of June 30, 2016, June 30, 2015, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were $0, $37,106, $60,499 and $107,523, respectively, and are included in due to member on the Company’s balance sheets.

At June 30, 2016, June 30, 2015, December 31, 2015 and 2014, the total amounts owed by the Company to the Manager were $350,905, $138,308, $230,409 and $141,504, respectively, which are reflected as due to member on the Company’s balance sheets.

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SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

11. Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company grants mortgages which are primarily secured by real estate throughout New England. This concentration of credit risk may be affected by changes in economic or other conditions of the geographic area.

12. Subsequent Events

As of June 30, 2016, real estate owned included one loan in default from a borrower which totaled approximately $369,400, including other costs. On July 29, 2016, the property collateralizing this loan was sold with net proceeds of $315,538 received by the Company (See Note 5).

Additionally, the Company sold another property included in real estate owned as of June 30, 2016 for $303,750 in July, 2016. The property had a carrying value of $297,110.

In August, 2016, the Company entered into quit claim deeds with two borrowers in connection with five separate mortgages receivable in order to transfer title of the underlying properties to the Company. The aggregate amount of the five mortgages receivable including interest and late charges receivable was approximately $520,000 at June 30, 2016. One of the properties is under contract for sale, the selling price of which is in excess of the carrying value of the property. The Company has obtained assessed values of the other four properties from the respective municipalities. Based on these values, the Company does not anticipate any material loss with respect to these properties.

In October, 2016, a member formally requested redemption of his equity in the Company in the amount of approximately $2,000,000 (See Note 8).

In November 2015 we signed a non-binding letter of intent with Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC (“Gunnar”) under which Gunnar agreed to act as lead underwriter in connection with an initial public offering by the Company. The terms of the offering, including the number of shares to be sold, the initial public offering price of the shares and pre-offering capitalization of the Company, have not been determined. If we decide to pursue the offering, we will have to convert the Company into a regular corporation in which case it will be required to pay corporate income taxes at the regular corporate rates and shareholders will be taxed on any dividends they receive from the Company. Once the Company converts into a regular corporation, we intend to operate and elect to be treated as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). As a REIT, we will be required to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our shareholders on an annual basis. We cannot assure you that we will qualify as a REIT or that, even if we do qualify initially, we will be able to maintain REIT status for any particular period of time. Our qualification as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual investment and operating results, various complex requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our compliance with the distributions requirements applicable to REITs and the diversity of ownership of our outstanding common shares. So long as we qualify as a REIT, we, generally, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income that we distribute currently to our shareholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year during which we lose our REIT qualification.

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SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
 
OVERVIEW TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Sachem Capital Partners, LLC (“SCP” or the “Company”), a Connecticut limited liability company, which commenced operations in December, 2010, is a real estate finance company that specializes in originating, underwriting, funding, servicing, and managing a portfolio of short-term (i.e., three years or less) loans secured by first mortgage liens on real property located primarily in Connecticut.

Immediately before this offering is effective, SCP will transfer all of its assets and liabilities to Sachem Capital Corp. (“Sachem Capital”) in exchange for 6,283,237 common shares of Sachem Capital. Immediately thereafter, SCP will distribute those shares to its members in full liquidation of their membership interests in SCP, pro rata in accordance with the members’ positive capital account balances.

Since its inception, all of SCP’s operations have been managed by JJV for which it paid JJV a management and other fees. SCP had no employees and no offices. All of its corporate documents and records were maintained by JJV in its offices. All of JJV’s activities were conducted by Jeffrey Villano and John Villano in their capacities as the manager of JJV.

Upon consummation of this offering, JJV will no longer be the manager of SCP, and will no longer be entitled to receive any management or other fees from SCP and Jeffrey and John Villano will become full-time employees of SCP.

The accompanying unaudited pro forma financial statements have been derived from our historical financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of June 30, 2016, and the unaudited pro forma statements of operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2015, are presented as if the following events occurred as of January 1, 2015: (i) the issuance of 8,533,237 common shares prior to the consummation of this offering, including 6,283,237 common shares that will be issued to SCP in exchange for all of the assets and liabilities of SCP; (ii) the elimination of the management fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP; (iii) the direct payment of salaries to John Villano and Jeffrey Villano; and (iv) the normalization of various other operating expenses, such as rent.

The following unaudited pro forma financial statements should be read in conjunction with (i) our historical unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2016, and for the six months ended June 30, 2016, (ii) our financial statements as of December 31, 2015, and for the year ended December 31, 2015, and (iii) “Risk Factors,” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” sections in this prospectus. We have based the unaudited pro forma adjustments on available information and assumptions that we believe are reasonable.

The following unaudited pro forma financial statements are presented for informational purposes only and are necessarily indicative of what our actual financial position would have been as of June 30, 2016, and what our actual results of operations would have been for the six months ended June 30, 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2015, assuming the management and other fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP are eliminated effective January 1, 2015, and additionally are not indicative of our future results of operations or financial condition, and should not be viewed as indicative of our future consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
 
PROFORMA BALANCE SHEET
AS OF JUNE 30, 2016
(UNAUDITED)

       
  Historical
As Of
June 30,
2016
    Proforma
Adjustments
  Proforma
As Of
June 30,
2016
Assets
                                   
Cash   $ 1,472,602       (7)     $ (363,315 )     $ 1,746,845  
                (1)       824,041           
                (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)       (186,483 )           
Mortgages receivable     29,018,954                         29,018,954  
Mortgages receivable, affiliate     1,376,522                         1,376,522  
Interest and fees receivable     371,035                         371,035  
Other receivables     142,306                         142,306  
Due from borrowers     49,607                         49,607  
Real estate owned     1,152,783                         1,152,783  
Pre-offering costs     169,750                         169,750  
Deferred financing costs     79,486                         79,486  
Escrow deposits     259,000                      259,000  
Total assets   $ 34,092,045           $ 274,243     $ 34,366,288  
Liabilities and Members’ Equity
                                   
Liabilities
                                   
Line of credit   $ 7,275,000                       $ 7,275,000  
Advances from borrowers     198,058                         198,058  
Due to member     350,905                         350,905  
Deferred revenue     189,372       (1)     $ 568,119       757,491  
Accrued interest     23,418                      23,418  
Total liabilities     8,036,753                568,119       8,604,872  
Net income                       69,439           
Members’ equity     26,055,292       (7)       (363,315 )       25,761,416  
Total liabilities and members’ equity   $ 34,092,045           $ 274,243     $ 34,366,288  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma financial statements.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
 
PRO FORMA STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2016
(UNAUDITED)

       
  Historical
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2016
    Proforma
Adjustments
  Proforma Year
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2016
Revenue
                                   
Interest income from loans   $ 1,735,200                       $ 1,735,200  
Origination fees, net     95,143       (1)     $ 255,922       351,065  
Late and other fees     101,306                         101,306  
Processing fees     26,985                         26,985  
Other income     10,478                         10,478  
Rental income     4,579                      4,579  
Total revenue     1,973,691             255,922       2,229,613  
Operating costs and expenses:
                                   
Interest and amortization of deferred financing costs     221,692                         221,692  
Compensation to manager     152,517       (2)       (152,517 )        
Professional fees     24,743                         24,743  
Other fees and taxes     22,388       (6)       30,000       52,388  
Salaries to officers           (3)       260,000       260,000  
Salaries – others           (4)       40,000       40,000  
Occupancy and other costs           (5)       9,000       9,000  
Total operating costs and expenses     421,340             186,483       607,823  
NET INCOME   $ 1,552,351           $ 69,439     $ 1,621,790  
Basic and diluted:
                                   
Net income per share   $ 0.18                       $ 0.19  
Weighted average shares outstanding     8,533,237                         8,533,237  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
 
PRO FORMA STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
(UNAUDITED)

       
  Historical
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
    Proforma
Adjustments
  Proforma Year
Ended
December 31,
2015
Revenue
                                   
Interest income from loans   $ 2,477,876                       $ 2,477,876  
Origination fees, net     108,385       (1)     $ 104,278       212,663  
Late and other fees     144,813                         144,813  
Processing fees     55,650                      55,650  
Total revenue     2,786,724             104,278       2,891,002  
Operating costs and expenses:
                                   
Interest and amortization of deferred financing
costs
    221,698                         221,698  
Compensation to manager     210,407       (2)       (210,407 )        
Professional fees     2,250                         2,250  
Other fees and taxes     5,093       (6)       60,000       65,093  
Bank fees     34,897                         34,897  
Loss on sale of real estate     5,476                         5,476  
Salaries to officers           (3)       520,000       520,000  
Salaries – others           (4)       80,000       80,000  
Occupancy and other costs           (5)       18,000       18,000  
Total operating costs and expenses     479,821             467,593       947,414  
NET INCOME   $ 2,306,903           $ (363,315 )     $ 1,943,588  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma financial statements.

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SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
 
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Overview of Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of June 30, 2016, and the accompanying unaudited pro forma statements of operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2015, present the pro forma impact of the elimination of the management and other fees payable to JJV in its capacity as the manager of SCP, the direct payment of salaries and other forms of compensation to the principals and the normalization of certain operating expenses. None of the offering transactions impact the accompanying unaudited pro forma financial statements.

The accompanying unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of June 30, 2016, and the accompanying unaudited pro forma statements of operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2015, assume the transactions were completed on January 1, 2015. Pro forma adjustments include only adjustments that give effect to events that are (i) directly attributable to this transaction, (ii) expected to have a continuing impact on the registrant, and (iii) factually supportable.

All pro forma adjustments are presented on the face of the accompanying unaudited pro forma balance sheets and unaudited pro forma statements of operations for each period presented.

Note 2. Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet Adjustments as of June 30, 2016

   
(1)     Represents the effect on cash and revenue resulting from the recognition of 100% of the origination fees, which were previously allocated in accordance with SCP’s Operating Agreement; 75% to JJV and 25% to SCP, as follows:  
       Effect on cash of the recognition of the additional 75% of origination fees deferred as of June 30, 2016     $  568,119  
       Recognition of JJV’s share of the origination fees for the six months ended June 30, 2016         255,922  
           $  824,041  
(2)     Elimination of the Manager’s compensation resulting in an increase in cash in the amount of     $  152,517  
(3)     Effect on cash to reflect the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, assuming aggregate annual salaries of $520,000       (260,000 )  
(4)     Effect on cash to reflect the employment of additional administrative personnel, assuming annual salaries of $80,000       (40,000 )  
(5)     Effect on cash to reflect the occupancy costs assuming rental expense of $18,000       (9,000 )  
(6)     Effect on cash to reflect payroll taxes estimated at 10% of gross salaries       (30,000 )  
             ($186,483 )  
(7)     Effect on opening equity at January 1, 2016, of pro forma Adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2015  

Note 3. Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations Adjustments for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016

(1) Recognition of JJV’s share of the origination fees for the six months ended June 30, 2016.
(2) Pro forma adjustment for the elimination of the Manager’s compensation.
(3) Pro forma adjustment to reflect the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, assuming aggregate annual salaries of $520,000.

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SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
 
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 3. Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations Adjustments for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 - (continued)

(4) Pro forma adjustment to reflect the employment of additional administrative personnel, assuming annual salaries of $80,000.
(5) Pro forma adjustment to reflect the occupancy costs assuming annual rental expense of $18,000.
(6) Pro forma adjustment to reflect payroll taxes estimated at 10% of gross salaries.

Note 4. Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations Adjustments for the Year Ended December 31, 2015

(1) Recognition of JJV’s share of the origination fees for the year ended December 31, 2015.
(2) Pro forma adjustment for the elimination of the Manager’s compensation.
(3) Pro forma adjustment to reflect the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, assuming aggregate annual salaries of $520,000.
(4) Pro forma adjustment to reflect the employment of additional administrative personnel, assuming annual salaries of $80,000.
(5) Pro forma adjustment to reflect the occupancy costs assuming annual rental expense of $18,000.
(6) Pro forma adjustment to reflect payroll taxes estimated at 10% of gross salaries.

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Sachem Capital Corp.

Common Shares

 
 
 

[GRAPHIC MISSING]  

 
 
 



 

PROSPECTUS



 

 
 
 
  
 

Joseph Gunnar & Co.

Through and including         , 201  (the 25 th day after the date of this offering), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscriptions.

 


 
 

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Part II
 
Information not required in prospectus

Item 31. Other expenses of issuance and distribution.

The following table shows the fees and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. All amounts except the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, registration fee are estimated.

 
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee   $ 1,815  
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. filing fee     3,249  
NASDAQ Capital Market listing fee     50,000  
Legal fees and expenses (including Blue Sky fees)           *  
Accounting fees and expenses           *  
Printing and engraving expenses           *  
Transfer agent fees and expenses           *  
Miscellaneous           *  
Total   $       *  

* Estimated.

Item 32. Sales to special parties.

None.

Item 33. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

The information presented below describes our sales and issuances of securities within the past three years which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Unless otherwise stated, the sales of the securities described below were deemed to exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) and/or Section 4(a)(5) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. The purchasers of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and, other than with respect to the non-transferable options, appropriate legends were placed on the securities issued in these transactions. All purchasers had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about our company. The sales of these securities were made without any general solicitation or advertising.

Private Placement

In January 2016, we sold an aggregate of 2,250,000 common shares to three accredited investors for services previously rendered with a total value of $2,250.

On or prior to the date of this prospectus, we issued 6,283,237 common shares to SCP in accordance with the Exchange Agreement with SCP pursuant to which SCP transfered all of its assets and liabilities to us in exchange for the common shares.

Item 34. Indemnification of directors and officers.

Sections 722 and 723 of the New York Business Corporation Law grant to the Company the power to indemnify the officers and directors of the Company as follows:

(a) A corporation may indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil or criminal, including an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the corporation served in any capacity at the request of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the corporation, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or

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other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, in criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

(b) The termination of any such civil or criminal action or proceeding by judgment, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not in itself create a presumption that any such director or officer did not act, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation or that he had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

(c) A corporation may indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification under this paragraph shall be made in respect of (1) a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or (2) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court on which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and expenses as the court deems proper.

(d) For the purpose of this section, a corporation shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to the corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be considered fines; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such person’s duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.

Payment of indemnification other than by court award is as follows:

(a) A person who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in section 722 shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in such section.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a), any indemnification under section 722 or otherwise permitted by section 721, unless ordered by a court under section 724 (Indemnification of directors and officers by a court), shall be made by the corporation, only if authorized in the specific case:

(1) By the board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding upon a finding that the director or officer has met the standard of conduct set forth in section 722 or established pursuant to section 721, as the case may be, or,

(2) If a quorum under subparagraph (1) is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs;

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(A) By the board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such sections has been met by such director or officer, or

(B) By the shareholders upon a finding that the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such sections.

(C) Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amounts as, and to the extent, required by paragraph (a) of section 725.

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides as follows:

“TENTH: (a) Right to Indemnification.   Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigation (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Business Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall incur to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (b) hereof, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that if the Business Corporation Law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer (in his or her capacity as a director or officer and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise. The corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

(b) Right of Claimant to Bring Suit.   If a claim under paragraph (a) of this Section is not paid in full by the corporation within thirty days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Business Corporation Law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Business

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Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard or conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(c) Non-Exclusivity of Rights.   The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article TENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

(d) Insurance.   The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Business Corporation Law.

ELEVENTH:  A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity, except for the liability of any director if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to him establishes that his acts or omissions were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled or that his acts violated Section 719 of the BCL.”

The Underwriting Agreement provides for reciprocal indemnification between the Company and its controlling persons, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and their respective controlling persons, on the other hand, against certain liabilities in connection with this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 35. Treatment of proceeds from shares being registered.

None of the proceeds will be credited to an account other than the appropriate capital share account.

Item 36. Financial statements and exhibits.

(a) Financial Statements.   See page F- 1 for an index to the financial statements included in the registration statement.

(b) Exhibits.   The following is a complete list of exhibits filed as part of the registration statement, which are incorporated herein. Certain of the following exhibits were filed as Exhibits to the registration statement on form SB-2, Registration No. 333-74203 and amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the reports filed under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are hereby incorporated by reference.

 
Exhibit No.  
1.1     Underwriting Agreement (1)
2.1     Exchange Agreement (2)
3.1     Certificate of Incorporation of HML Capital Corp. (2)
3.2     Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of HML Capital Corp. (1)
3.3     Bylaws of HML Capital Corp. (2)
4.1     Specimen Share Certificate (1)
4.2     Form of Representative’s Warrant (1)
5.1     Legal Opinion (1)
8.1     Tax Opinion (1)
10.1      Employment Agreement by and between John C. Villano and Sachem Capital Corp. (2) (3)
10.2      Employment Agreement by and between Jeffrey C. Villano and Sachem Capital Corp. (2) (3)
10.3      Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (2) (3)
10.4.1.1   Revolving Note, dated December 18, 2014, in the principal amount of $5,000,000 (1)

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Exhibit No.  
10.4.1.2   Revolving Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 18, 2014, between Bankwell Bank, as Lender, and Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, as Borrower (1)
10.4.2.1   Amended and Restated Revolving Note, dated December 30, 2015, in the principal amount of $7,000,000.00 (1)
10.4.2.2   Modification to Revolving Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 30, 2015, between Bankwell Bank, as Lender, and Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, as Borrower (1)
 10.4.3.1   Amended and Restated Revolving Note, dated March 15, 2016, in the principal amount of $15,000,000.00 (1)
 10.4.3.2   Amended and Restated Commercial Revolving Loan and Security Agreement, dated March 15, 2016, between Bankwell Bank, as Lender, and Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, as Borrower (1)
10.5     Limited Liability Operating Agreement of Sachem Capital Partners, LLC (2)
21.1     List of Subsidiaries (4)
23.1     Consent of Hoberman & Lesser, LLP, dated October 28, 2016 (2)
23.2     Consent of Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) (1)
24.1     Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page)
99.1     Consent of Arthur Goldberg, dated August 3, 2016 (2)
99.2     Consent of Leslie Bernhard, dated August 3, 2016 (2)
99.3     Consent of Brian Prinz, dated October 27, 2016 (2)
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document (1)
101.SCH   XBRL Schema Document (1)
101.CAL   XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document (1)
101.DEF   XBRL Definition Linkbase Document (1)
101.LAB   XBRL Label Linkbase Document (1)
101.PRE   XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document (1)

(1) To be filed by amendment.
(2) Filed herewith.
(3) Compensation arrangement.
(4) None.

Item 37. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933.

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

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(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§230.424 of this chapter);

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-11 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in town of Branford, State of Connecticut, on October 28, 2016.

Sachem Capital Corp.

 

By:

/s/ John L. Villano

John L. Villano

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey C. Villano

Jeffrey C. Villano

Co-Chief Executive Officers

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Sachem Capital Corp., hereby severally constitute and appoint John L. Villano and Jeffrey C. Villano, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them for him and in his name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and any other registration statement for the same offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

   
Signature   Date   Title
/s/ John L. Villano CPA

John L. Villano
  October 28, 2016   Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
and Director
/s/ Jeffrey C. Villano

Jeffrey C. Villano
  October 28, 2016   Co-Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer),
President (Principal Operating Officer) and Director

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Index of Exhibits

 
Exhibit No.   Description
1.1      Underwriting Agreement (1)
2.1      Exchange Agreement (2)
3.1      Certificate of Incorporation of HML Capital Corp. (2)
3.2     Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation (1)
3.3      Bylaws of HML Capital Corp. (2)
4.1      Specimen Share Certificate (1)
4.2      Form of Representative’s Warrant (1)
5.1      Legal Opinion (1)
8.1      Tax Opinion (1)
10.1      Employment Agreement by and between John C. Villano and HML Capital Corp. (2) (3)
10.2      Employment Agreement by and between Jeffrey L. Villano and HML Capital Corp. (2) (3)
10.3      Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (2) (3)
10.4.1.1   Revolving Note, dated December 18, 2014, in the principal amount of $5,000,000 (1)
10.4.1.2   Revolving Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 18, 2014, between Bankwell Bank, as Lender, and Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, as Borrower (1)
10.4.2.1   Amended and Restated Revolving Note, dated December 30, 2015, in the principal amount of $7,000,000 (1)
10.4.2.2   Modification to Revolving Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 30, 2015, between Bankwell Bank, as Lender, and Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, as Borrower (1)
10.4.3.1   Amended and Restated Revolving Note, dated March 15, 2016, in the principal amount of $15,000,000 (1)
10.4.3.2   Amended and Restated Commercial Revolving Loan and Security Agreement, dated March 15, 2016, between Bankwell Bank, as Lender, and Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, as Borrower (1)
10.5      Limited Liability Operating Agreement of Sachem Capital Partners, LLC (2)
21.1      List of Subsidiaries (4)
23.1      Consent of Hoberman & Lesser, LLP, dated October 28, 2016 (2)
23.2      Consent of Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) (1)
24.1      Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page)
99.1      Consent of Arthur Goldberg, dated August 3, 2016 (2)
99.2      Consent of Leslie Bernhard, dated August 3, 2016 (2)
99.3      Consent of Brian Prinz, dated October 27, 2016 (2)
101.INS     XBRL Instance Document (1)
101.SCH     XBRL Schema Document (1)
101.CAL     XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document (1)
101.DEF    XBRL Definition Linkbase Document (1)
101.LAB    XBRL Label Linkbase Document (1)
101.PRE    XBRL Presentation Linkbase Documen (1)

(1) To be filed by amendment.
(2) Filed herewith.
(3) Compensation arrangement.
(4) None.


 

Exhibit 2.1

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 

Exchange Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), dated this 27th day of October, 2016, between Sachem Capital Partners, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company (the “ SCP ”) and HML Capital Corp, a New York corporation (“ HML ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, in connection with an initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of its common shares, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Shares ”), by HML, SCP has agreed to transfer, convey, assign, transfer and sell all of its assets (collectively, the “ SCP Assets ”), subject to all of SCP’s liabilities (collectively, the “ SCP Liabilities ”), to HML and HML has agreed to accept, acquire and purchase all of the SCP Assets and assume all of the SCP Liabilities in exchange for 6,283,237 Common Shares (the “ Shares ”); and

 

WHEREAS, SCP intends to distribute the Shares to its members, pro rata in accordance to their capital account balances as provided in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.            The Exchange . SCP hereby agrees that on the Closing Date (as defined below), it will sell, convey, assign and transfer the SCP Assets to HML and HML hereby agrees to (a) accept, acquire and purchase all of the SCP Assets and assume, pay and discharge all of the SCP Liabilities and (b) issue the Shares to SCP in exchange and as consideration for all of the SCP Assets (the foregoing transaction being herein referred to as the “ Exchange ”). HML acknowledges and agrees that following the Exchange, SCP will distribute the Shares to its members (the “ SCP Members ”), rounded-down to the nearest whole number of Common Shares, pro rata in accordance with the respective capital account balances of the SCP Members as of the close of business on the date immediately prior to the date of such distribution. SCP hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Shares shall not be registered but shall constitute “restricted shares” as defined under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and shall also execute and deliver a lock-up agreement, substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Lock-Up Agreement ”) with respect to the Shares.

 

2.            SCP’s Representations and Warranties . SCP hereby represents and warrants to HML, which representations and warrants are and shall be true, complete and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

 

a.            Authority, Approval and Enforceability .

 

(i) SCP has the full power and authority and legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Exchange and this Agreement and all agreements, instruments and documents executed and delivered or to be executed and delivered by SCP in connection with the Exchange (collectively, the “ Collateral Agreements ”) has been duly executed and delivered by SCP.

 

 

 

 

(ii) SCP is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Connecticut and has all requisite power and legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Collateral Agreement, to consummate the Exchange, and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Collateral Agreements and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder have been duly and validly authorized and approved by all action necessary on behalf of SCP.

 

(iii) This Agreement and each Collateral Agreement to which SCP is a party constitutes, or upon execution and delivery will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of SCP, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by general equitable principles or by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, or similar laws and judicial decisions from time to time in effect which affect creditors’ rights generally.

 

b.            Ownership of Assets . SCP has good and valid title to the SCP Assets and owns the SCP Assets free and clear of all liens, mortgages, encumbrances and other security interests, other than a security interest in favor of Bankwell Bank.

 

3.            HML Representations and Warranties . HML represents and warrants to SCP, which representations and warrants are and shall be true, complete and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

 

a.            Corporate Existence and Qualification . HML is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York; has the corporate or other power and any required certificates, authorizations or permits issued by any regulatory body to own, manage, lease and hold its properties and to carry on its business as described in the prospectus as and where such properties are presently located and such business is presently conducted; and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each of the jurisdictions where the character of its properties or the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified, except for those jurisdictions in which failure to do so has not, or could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), properties, operations or prospects of the HML and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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b.            Authority, Approval and Enforceability . This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by HML and HML has all requisite corporate power and legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and all Collateral Agreements and to consummate the Exchange, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Collateral Agreements and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder have been duly and validly authorized and approved by all corporate action necessary on behalf of HML. This Agreement and each Collateral Agreement to which HML is a party constitutes, or upon execution and delivery will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of HML, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by general equitable principles or by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, or similar laws and judicial decisions from time to time in effect which affect creditors’ rights generally.

 

c.            Issuance of the Shares . HML has full power and authority to issue the Shares. The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized, and upon the closing of the Exchange, the Shares, when issued, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all liens; provided, however, that the Shares may be subject to restrictions on transfer under state and/or federal securities laws as set forth herein or as otherwise required by such laws at the time a transfer is proposed and shall be subject to the terms of the Lock-Up Agreement.

 

d.            Capitalization; Ownership of Shares . The authorized capital stock of HML consists of 55,000,000 shares of which 50,000,000 are Common Shares and 5,000,000 are preferred shares, par value $.001 per share, of which 2,250,000 Common Shares are currently issued and outstanding and 8,533,237 Common Shares shall be issued and outstanding immediately after the consummation of the Exchange but immediately before the IPO. All outstanding Common Shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in the prospectus to be filed by HML pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act (the “ Final Prospectus ”), there are no (i) securities convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other securities of HML, (ii) options, warrants or other rights to purchase or subscribe to capital stock or other securities of HML or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or other securities of HML or (iii) contracts, commitments, agreements, understandings or arrangements of any kind relating to the issuance, sale or transfer of any capital stock or other securities of HML, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such options, warrants or other rights.

 

e.            Private Placement . The offer and issuance of the Shares to SCP is being made pursuant to the exemptions from the registration provisions of the Securities Act afforded by Sections 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(5) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. Assuming the accuracy of SCP’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 hereof, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and issuance of the Shares by HML to SCP as contemplated hereby. Neither HML nor any person acting on behalf of HML has offered or sold any of the Shares by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. Except as otherwise permitted under Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act, HML has offered the Shares only to SCP.

 

4.            Transfer, Listing and Registration .

 

a.            Transfers . The Shares may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Shares other than pursuant to an effective registration statement, to HML, or to an Affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of SCP, or by will or by the laws of descent or distribution, HML may require SCP to provide to HML an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to HML, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Shares under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any transferee shall agree in writing to be subject to the obligations of SCP to this Agreement.

 

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b.            Legends . Each of SCP and its transferees, including, but not limited to, its Members agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required by this Section 4(b), of a legend on any certificates evidencing the Shares in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, ASSIGNED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR IN A TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.”

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT AND IS SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS AGAINST TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE LOCK-UP AGREEMENT. A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT IS ON FILE WITH THE ISSUER”

 

c.            Certificates . HML agrees to reissue certificates evidencing the Shares without the legend set forth in Section 4(b) if at such time, prior to making any transfer of any such Shares, such holder thereof shall give written notice to HML describing the manner and terms of such transfer and removal as HML may reasonably request. Such transfer and removal will only be effected, (i) while a registration statement covering the resale of such security is effective under the Securities Act, or (ii) following any resale of such Shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) if such Shares are eligible for resale under Rule 144, or (iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the Staff of the SEC).

 

d.            Acknowledgement . SCP agrees, on its behalf on behalf of each of its transferees, that the removal of any restrictive legend from certificates representing Shares as set forth in this Section 4 is predicated upon HML’s reliance that neither SCP nor any of its transferees will sell any Shares other than pursuant to either the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption therefrom and in compliance with the terms of the Lock-up Agreement, if any.

 

5.            Conditions Precedent to Obligations of HML . The obligations of HML are subject to the fulfillment prior to or on the Closing Date of the following conditions any of which may be waived by HML in writing:

 

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a.           all representations and warranties of SCP contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on or as of such date; and

 

b.           all agreements and covenants of SCP to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Closing Date have in all material respects been so performed or complied with.

 

6.            Conditions Precedent to Obligations of SCP . The obligations of SCP are subject to the fulfillment prior to or on the Closing Date of the following conditions any of which may be waived by the SCP in writing:

 

a.           all representations and warranties of HML contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on or as of such date; and

 

b.           all obligations, agreements and covenants of HML to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Closing Date shall have, in all respects been so performed or complied with.

 

7.            Indemnity .

 

a.           HML shall indemnify and hold harmless SCP and, to the extent applicable, SCP’s directors, officers, shareholders, members, managers, and heirs and assigns from and against any and all damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, fines, judgments, claims, deficiencies, losses, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and assessments arising out of, resulting from, or in any way related to a breach of, or the failure to perform or satisfy any of, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made by HML in this Agreement or in any Collateral Agreement delivered by HML pursuant hereto.

 

b.           SCP shall indemnify and hold harmless HML and HML’s directors, officers, shareholders, members, managers, and heirs and assigns from and against any and all damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, fines, judgments, claims, deficiencies, losses, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and assessments arising out of, resulting from, or in any way related to a breach of, or the failure to perform or satisfy any of, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made by SCP in this Agreement or in any Collateral Agreement delivered by SCP pursuant hereto.

 

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8.            Miscellaneous .

 

a.            Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, or facsimile, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by the transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be: (i) if to HML, to: 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405, Attention: Jeffrey C. Villano, with a copy to: Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander, LLP, 825 Third Avenue, 16 th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Joel Goldschmidt, Esq., telecopier: 212-208-6809; email: jgoldschmidt@mzrl.com , (ii) if to SCP to: 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405, Attention: John L. Villano, with a copy to: Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander, LLP, 825 Third Avenue, 16 th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Joel Goldschmidt, Esq., telecopier: 212-208-6809; email: jgoldschmidt@mzrl.com ,

 

b.            Closing . The consummation of the transactions contemplated herein (the “Closing”) shall take place on and at such date, time and place as shall be determined by the Manager (“Closing Date”).

 

c.            Entire Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement and any other documents executed and/or delivered in connection with this transaction represent the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by a writing executed by HML and SCP. Neither HML nor SCP has relied on any representations not contained or referred to in this Agreement and the documents delivered herewith. No right or obligation of HML shall be assigned without prior notice to and the written consent of SCP. SCP may assign any or all of its rights hereunder to any person in connection with a transfer of any Security to such person, provided such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Shares, by the provisions hereof that apply to SCP.

 

d.            Counterparts/Execution . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different signatories hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature and delivered by facsimile transmission.

 

e.            Law Governing this Agreement . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action brought by either party hereto against the other concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be brought only in the state courts of New York or in the federal courts located in the state of New York. The parties hereto and the individuals executing this Agreement and other agreements referred to herein or delivered in connection herewith on behalf of HML or SCP, as the case may be, agree to submit to the jurisdiction of such courts and waive trial by jury. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement delivered in connection herewith is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of any agreement.

 

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f.             Equitable Adjustment . The number of Shares to be issued hereunder shall be adjusted to reflect any changes in the terms of the IPO.

 

g.            Delay in Exercise of Rights . No failure or delay of any party hereto in exercising any right herein shall act as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial waiver thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right hereunder. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unenforceable or void, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

h.            Ordinary Course of Business . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing contained herein shall preclude SCP from, and SCP shall be obligated to, (i) conduct its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice between the date hereof and the Closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) pay any and all amounts due and owing to JJV, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company and the managing member of SCP as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

 

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed.

 

  HML CAPITAL CORP.
     
  By:  /s/ John L. Villano 
  Name: John L. Villano
  Title:  Co-Chief Executive Officer
   
  SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
  BY: JJV, LLC, Manager
     
  By:  /s/ Jeffrey C. Villano 
  Name: Jeffrey C. Villano
  Title:  Managing Member

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

HML CAPITAL CORP.

____________________________________________

 

(Pursuant to Section 402 of the New York Business Corporation Law)

 

FIRST: The name of the corporation is HML CAPITAL CORP.

 

SECOND: The corporation is formed for the following purpose or purposes:

 

To engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the New York Business Corporation Law (“BCL”), including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “Code”), as now or hereafter in force, provided that the corporation is not formed to engage in any act or activity requiring the consent or approval of any state official, department, board, agency or other body without such consent or approval first being obtained.

 

To have, in furtherance of the corporate purposes, all of the powers conferred upon corporations organized under the BCL subject to any limitations thereof contained in this certificate of incorporation or in the laws of the State of New York.

 

If the corporation elects to qualify for U.S. Federal income tax treatment as a REIT, the Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall take such actions as it determines are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the corporation as a REIT; provided, however, if the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that it is no longer in the best interests of the corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT, the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the corporation’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Directors also may determine, in its sole and absolute discretion that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Article TWELFTH is no longer required.

 

THIRD:          The office of the corporation is to be located in the County of New York, State of New York.

 

     

 

 

FOURTH:      The aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue is 55,000,000 of which 50,000,000 shall be common shares, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Shares”) and 5,000,000 shall be preferred shares, par value $.001 per share (the “Preferred Shares”). The Preferred Shares may be issued, from time to time, in one or more series with such designations, preferences and relative participating optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof including but not limited to preemptive rights (notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in Article TENTH hereof), as shall be stated in the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such Preferred Shares or series thereof; and the Board of Directors is hereby expressly vested with authority to fix such designations, preferences and relative participating optional or other special rights or qualifications, limitations or restrictions for each series, including, but not by way of limitation, the power to affix the redemption and liquidation preferences, the rate of dividends payable and the time for and the priority of payment thereof and to determine whether such dividends shall be cumulative or not and to provide for and affix the terms of conversion of such Preferred Shares or any series thereof into Common Shares of the corporation and fix the voting power, if any, of Preferred Shares or any series thereof and to provide for preemptive rights (notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in Article TENTH hereof).

 

FIFTH:           The Secretary of State is designated as the agent of the corporation upon whom process against the corporation may be served. The post office address within the State of New York to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the corporation served upon him is: Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander, LLP, 825 Third Avenue, 16 th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attn: Stephen A. Zelnick, Esq.

 

SIXTH:          The duration of the corporation is perpetual.

 

SEVENTH:    Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors of the corporation or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of said Board or of any such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

EIGHTH:       Whenever under the BCL shareholders are required or permitted to take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting on written consent, setting forth the action so taken, signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

 

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NINTH:         No holder of any of the shares of any class of the capital stock of the corporation shall be entitled as of right to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise acquire any shares of any class of the capital stock of the corporation that the corporation proposes to issue or any rights or options which the corporation proposes to grant for the purchase of any shares, bonds, securities, or obligations of the corporation which are convertible into or exchangeable for, or which carry any rights to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise acquire shares of any class of capital stock of the corporation; and any and all of such shares, bonds, securities or obligations of the corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized or created, may be issued, or may be reissued or transferred if the same have been reacquired and have treasury status, and any and all of such rights and options may be granted by the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations and associations, and for such lawful consideration, and on such terms, as the Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion may determine, without first offering the same, or any thereof, to any said holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing stated denial of any and all preemptive rights, no holder of shares of any class of the capital stock of the corporation shall have any preemptive rights in respect of the matters, proceedings, or transaction specified in subparagraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of paragraph (e) of Section 622 of the BCL.

 

TENTH:        (a)    Right to Indemnification .           Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigation (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the BCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall incur to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (b) hereof, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that if the BCL requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer (in his or her capacity as a director or officer and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise. The corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

 

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(b)           Right of Claimant to Bring Suit .           If a claim under paragraph (a) of this Section is not paid in full by the corporation within thirty days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the BCL for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the BCL, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard or conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(c)           Non-Exclusivity of Rights .           The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article TENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

(d)           Insurance .           The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the BCL.

 

ELEVENTH: A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity, except for the liability of any director if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to him establishes that his acts or omissions were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled or that his acts violated Section 719 of the BCL.

 

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TWELFTH: RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 12.1.           Definitions .         For the purpose of this Article TWELFTH, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit .         The term “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” shall mean four (4.0%) percent in value or number, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 12.2.8 of this Certificate of Incorporation. The value of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock shall be determined by the Board of Directors, which determination shall be final and conclusive for all purposes hereof. For purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Capital Stock by any Person, shares of Capital Stock that may be acquired upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities of the corporation directly or constructively held by such Person, but not shares of Capital Stock issuable with respect to the conversion, exchange or exercise of securities of the corporation held by other Persons, shall be deemed to be outstanding prior to conversion, exchange or exercise.

 

Beneficial Ownership .         The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Business Day .         The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is not a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Capital Stock .         The term “Capital Stock” shall mean all classes or series of stock of the corporation, including, without limitation, Common Shares and Preferred Shares.

 

Charitable Beneficiary . The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 12.3.6 of this Certificate of Incorporation, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

 

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Common Stock Ownership Limit .         The term “Common Stock Ownership Limit” shall mean four (4.0%) percent (in value or in number of Common Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding Common Shares, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 12.2.8 of this Certificate of Incorporation. The number and value of the outstanding Common Shares of the corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors, which determination shall be final and conclusive for all purposes hereof. For purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Common Shares by any Person, Common Shares that may be acquired upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities of the corporation directly or constructively held by such Person, but not Common Shares issuable with respect to the conversion, exchange or exercise of securities of the corporation held by other Persons, shall be deemed to be outstanding prior to conversion, exchange or exercise.

 

Constructive Ownership .         The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Excepted Holder .         The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean John L. Villano, and Jeffrey C. Villano and any other shareholder of the corporation for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by this Article TWELFTH or by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 12.2.7.

 

Excepted Holder Limit .         The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 12.2.7 of this Certificate of Incorporation and subject to adjustment pursuant to Sections 12.2.7 of this Certificate of Incorporation and 12.2.8 of this Certificate of Incorporation, the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 12.2.7 of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Initial Date .         The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date of the closing of the issuance of Common Shares pursuant to the S-11 Registration Statement to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Market Price .         The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding shares of Capital Stock, the Closing Price for such Capital Stock on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Capital Stock, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Capital Stock, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on Nasdaq or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on Nasdaq, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Capital Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the principal automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Capital Stock is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Capital Stock selected by the Board of Directors or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Capital Stock, the fair market value of the Capital Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

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Nasdaq .         The term “Nasdaq” shall mean any of the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

 

Person .         The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.

 

Prohibited Owner .         The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of this Article TWELFTH, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 12.2.1 of this Certificate of Incorporation, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

 

Restriction Termination Date .         The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that it is no longer in the best interests of the corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with any or all of the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of shares of Capital Stock set forth herein is no longer required.

 

Transfer .         The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, redemption, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire or possess Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such action or cause any such event, of Capital Stock or the right to vote or receive dividends on Capital Stock, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock or any interest in Capital Stock or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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Trust .         The term “Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 12.3.1 of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Trustee .         The term “Trustee” shall mean a Person unaffiliated with the corporation and a Prohibited Owner that is appointed by the corporation to serve as trustee of the Trust.

 

Section 12.2.         Capital Stock .

 

Section 12.2.1.     Ownership Limitations . During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 12.4 of this Certificate of Incorporation:

 

(a)           Basic Restrictions .

 

(i) No

 

(1) Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit;

 

(2) Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit; and

 

(3) Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.

 

(ii)          No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock would result in the corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the corporation owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the corporation from such tenant would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).

 

(iii)        Any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock that, if effective, would result in the Capital Stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.

 

(iv)         No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock could result in the corporation failing to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

 

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(b)           Transfer in Trust .         If any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii) or (iv) of this Certificate of Incorporation, then that number of shares of the Capital Stock the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii) or (iv) of this Certificate of Incorporation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 12.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such shares; provided, however, if the transfer to the Trust described in first clause of this first sentence of this Section 12.2.1(b) would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii) or (iv) of this Certificate of Incorporation, then the Transfer of that number of shares of Capital Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii) or (iv) of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock. To the extent that, upon a transfer of shares of Capital Stock to a Trust pursuant to this Section 12.2.1(b), a violation of any provision of this Article TWELFTH would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of shares of Capital Stock by a single Trust would violate the 100 stockholder requirement applicable to REITs), then shares of Capital Stock shall be transferred to that number of Trusts, each having a distinct Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of this Article TWELFTH.

 

Section 12.2.2.           Remedies for Breach . If the Board of Directors shall at any time determine that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 12.2.1 of this Certificate of Incorporation or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 12.2.1 of this Certificate of Incorporation (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Directors or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the corporation to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 12.2.1 of this Certificate of Incorporation shall automatically result in the transfer to the Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 12.2.3.           Notice of Restricted Transfer . Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock that will or may violate Section 12.2.1(a) of this Certificate of Incorporation or any Person who would have owned shares of Capital Stock that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.2.1(b) of this Certificate of Incorporation shall immediately give written notice to the corporation of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice, and shall provide to the corporation such other information as the corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

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Section 12.2.4.           Owners Required to Provide Information . From the Initial Date until prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

 

(a)          every owner of four (4.0%) percent or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the U.S. Treasury Department regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, within thirty (30) days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the corporation stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of Capital Stock Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to the corporation such additional information as the corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the corporation’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common Stock Ownership Limit; and

 

(b)          each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Capital Stock and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Capital Stock for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information as the corporation may request, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common Stock Ownership Limit.

 

Section 12.2.5.           Remedies Not Limited . Nothing contained in this Article TWELFTH shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the corporation in preserving the corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

Section 12.2.6.           Ambiguity . In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of Section 12.2, Section 12.3 or any definition contained in Section 12.1 of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may determine the application of the provisions of such Section 12.2 or Section 12.3 or any such definition with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 12.2 or Section 12.3 of this Certificate of Incorporation requires an action by the Board of Directors and this Certificate of Incorporation fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors may determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 12.1, 12.2 or 12.3 of this Certificate of Incorporation. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board of Directors (which the Board of Directors may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 12.2.2 of this Certificate of Incorporation) acquired Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock in violation of Section 12.2.1 of this Certificate of Incorporation, such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the shares of Capital Stock that, but for such remedies, would have been actually owned by such Person, and second to shares of Capital Stock that, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such shares of Capital Stock based upon the relative number of the shares of Capital Stock held by each such Person.

 

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Section 12.2.7.           Exceptions .

 

(a)          Subject to Section 12.2.1(a)(ii) of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, may, but is not required to, exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a Person from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common Stock Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if the corporation obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary for the Board of Directors to determine that:

 

(i)          no Person’s Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of such shares of Capital Stock will violate Section 12.2.1(a)(ii) of this Certificate of Incorporation at the time the Board makes the determination; and

 

(ii)         such Person does not and will not own, actually or Constructively, an interest in a tenant of the corporation (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the corporation ) that would cause the corporation to own, actually or Constructively, a 10% or more interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant (for this purpose, a tenant shall not be treated as a tenant of the corporation if the corporation (or an entity owned or controlled by the corporation ) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue from such tenant such that, in the determination of the Board of Directors, rent from such tenant would not, individually or in the aggregate with other revenues of the corporation, adversely affect the corporation ’s ability to qualify as a REIT).

 

Any violation or attempted violation of any such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Sections 12.2.1 through 12.2.6 of this Certificate of Incorporation) will result in shares of Capital Stock being automatically transferred to a Trust in accordance with Sections 12.2.1(b) and 12.3 of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(b)          Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 12.2.7(a) of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the corporation’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

 

(c)          Subject to Section 12.2.1(a)(ii) of this Certificate of Incorporation, an underwriter or placement agent that participates in a public offering or a private placement of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, the Common Stock Ownership Limit, or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

 

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(d)          The Board of Directors may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Common Stock Ownership Limit, as the case may be.

 

Section 12.2.8.           Increase or Decrease in Aggregate Stock Ownership and Common Stock Ownership Limits .  Subject to Section 12.2.1(a)(ii) and this Section 12.2.8 of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time increase the Common Stock Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit for one or more Persons and decrease the Common Stock Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit for all other Persons. No decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit will be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership of Capital Stock is in excess of such decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, as applicable, until such time as such Person’s percentage ownership of Capital Stock equals or falls below the decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, as applicable; provided, however, any further acquisition of Capital Stock by any such Person (other than a Person for whom an exemption has been granted pursuant to Section 12.2.7(a) of this Certificate of Incorporation or an Excepted Holder) in excess of the Capital Stock owned by such person on the date the decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, as applicable, became effective will be in violation of the Common Stock Ownership Limit or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit. No increase to the Common Stock Ownership Limit or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit may be approved if the new Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit would allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Capital Stock.

 

Section 12.2.9.           Legend . Each certificate for shares of Capital Stock, if certificated, or the notice in lieu of a certificate, if any, shall bear substantially the following legend:

 

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The shares [represented by this certificate] are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of the corporation’s Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock of the corporation in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Capital Stock that would result in the corporation being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; (iv) no Person may Transfer shares of Capital Stock if such Transfer would result in the Capital Stock of the corporation being owned by fewer than 100 Persons; and (v) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock that could result in the corporation failing to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” under Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code. Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts or intends to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock which cause or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the corporation. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership provided in (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) above are violated, the shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the corporation may redeem shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion if the Board of Directors determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, if the ownership restriction provided in (iv) above would be violated, or upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio . All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings given to them in the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the corporation at its principal office.

 

Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate or notice may state that the corporation will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on ownership and transferability to a shareholder on request and without charge.

 

Section 12.3.           Transfer of Capital Stock in Trust .

 

Section 12.3.1.           Ownership in Trust . Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 12.2.1(b) of this Certificate of Incorporation that would result in a transfer of shares of Capital Stock to a Trust, such shares of Capital Stock shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 12.2.1(b) of this Certificate of Incorporation. The Trustee shall be appointed by the corporation and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the corporation and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the corporation as provided in Section 12.3.6 of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Section 12.3.2.           Status of Shares Held by the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the corporation. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Trust.

 

Section 12.3.3.           Dividend and Voting Rights . The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or distribution to the Trustee upon demand, and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust and, subject to New York law, effective as of the date that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however , that if the corporation has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article TWELFTH, until the corporation has received notification that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred into a Trust, the corporation shall be entitled to rely on its stock transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of shareholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes and determining the other rights of shareholders.

 

Section 12.3.4.           Sale of Shares by Trustee . Within twenty (20) days of receiving notice from the corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of the Trust shall sell the shares held in the Trust to a person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 12.2.1(a) of this Certificate of Incorporation. Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 12.3.4 of this Certificate of Incorporation. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust ( e.g. , in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Trust. The Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.3.3 of this Certificate of Incorporation of this Article TWELFTH. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be retained by or immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 12.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.

 

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Section 12.3.5.           Purchase Right in Stock Transferred to the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The corporation may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.3.3 of this Article TWELFTH. The corporation may pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The corporation shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 12.3.4. Upon such a sale to the corporation, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.

 

Section 12.3.6.           Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries . By written notice to the Trustee, the corporation shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries of the interest in the Trust such that the shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 12.2.1(a) of this Certificate of Incorporation in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries. Neither the failure of the corporation to make such designation nor the failure of the corporation to appoint the Trustee before the automatic transfer provided in Section 12.2.1(b) shall make such transfer ineffective, provided that the corporation thereafter makes such designation and appointment.

 

Section 12.4.           Nasdaq Transactions . Nothing in this Article TWELFTH shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of Nasdaq or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article TWELFTH and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article TWELFTH.

 

Section 12.5.           Enforcement . The corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article TWELFTH.

 

Section 12.6.           Non-Waiver . No delay or failure on the part of the corporation or the Board of Directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the corporation or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereto sign my name and affirm that the statements made herein are true under the penalties of perjury, this 25th day of January 2016.

 

  /s/ John C. Hui
  John C. Hui, Incorporator
  Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander LLP
  825 Third Ave, 16 th Floor
  New York, New York 10022

 

  16  

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

HML CAPITAL CORP.

 

(Pursuant to Section 402 of the New York Business Corporation Law)

 

Filer:

 

John C. Hui, Esq.

Morse, Zelnick, Rose & Lander LLP

825 Third Ave

New York, New York 10022

 

     

 

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

BY LAWS

 

of

 

HML Capital Corp.

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1. Principal Office - The principal office of the Corporation shall be as set forth in its Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 2. Additional Offices - The Corporation may have such additional offices at such other place within or without the State of New York as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II

 

SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING

 

Section 1. Annual Meeting - An annual meeting of shareholders shall be held annually on such day during the period from May 1 through October 31, other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the state of New York, at the time and place (either within or without the State of New York) as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and specified in the notice of meeting for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

Section 2. Special Meeting - A special meeting of shareholders may be called at any time by the President and shall be called by the President at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors then in office or at the request in writing filed with the Secretary by the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting. Any such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Special meetings shall be held at such time and place (either within or without the State of New York) as shall be specified in the notice thereof. Business transacted at any special meeting of shareholders shall be confined to the purposes set forth in the notice thereof.

 

Section 3. Notice of Meetings - Written notice of the time, and place and purpose of every meeting of shareholders (and, if other than an annual meeting, indicating the person or persons at whose discretion the meeting is being convoked), shall be given by the President, a Vice-President or by the Secretary to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting and to each shareholder who, by reason of any action proposed at such meeting, would be entitled to have his stock appraised if such action were taken, not less than ten nor more than fifty days prior to the date set for the meeting, either personally or by mailing said notice by first class mail to each shareholder at his address appearing on the stock book of the Corporation or at such other address supplied by him in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation for the purpose of receiving notice. Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office or official depository under the exclusive care and custody of the United States Post Office Department. The record date for determining the shareholders entitled to such notice shall be determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6 of ARTICLE SIXTH of these Bylaws.

 

 

 

 

If the directors shall adopt, amend or repeal a by-law regulating an impending election of directors, the notice of the next meeting of shareholders for the election of directors shall set forth the by-law so adopted, amended or repealed together with a concise statement of the changes made as required by Section 601(b) of the Business Corporation Law. If any action is proposed to be taken which would, if taken, entitle shareholders to receive payment for their shares, the notice of meeting shall include a statement to such effect.

 

A written waiver of notice setting forth the purposes of the meeting for which notice is waived, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. The attendance by a shareholder at a meeting either in person or by proxy without protesting the lack of notice thereof shall constitute a waiver of notice of such shareholder.

 

All notice given with respect to an original meeting shall extend to any and all adjournments thereof and such business as might have been transacted at the original meeting may be transacted at any adjournment thereof; no notice of any adjourned meeting need be given if an announcement of the time and place of the adjourned meeting is made at the original meeting.

 

Section 4. Quorum - The holders of a majority of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of shareholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of shareholders, the shareholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, such quorum is not deemed broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any shareholders.

 

Section 5. Voting - Every shareholder entitled to vote at any meeting shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote and held by him of record on the date fixed as the record date for said meeting and may so vote in person or by proxy. At all elections of directors when a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote shall elect and any other corporate action, when a quorum is present, shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon except as may otherwise be provided by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 6. Proxies - Every proxy must be signed by the shareholder entitled to vote or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact and shall be valid only if filed with the Secretary of the Corporation or with the Secretary of the meeting prior to the commencement of voting on the matter in regard to which said proxy is to be voted. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months from the date of its execution unless otherwise expressly provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the person executing it except as otherwise provided by Section 609 of the Business Corporation Law. Unless the proxy by its terms provides for a specific revocation date and except as otherwise provided by statute, revocation of a proxy shall not be effective unless and until such revocation is executed in writing by the shareholder who executed such proxy and the revocation is filed with the Secretary of the Corporation or with the Secretary of the Meeting prior to the voting of the proxy.

 

Section 7. Shareholders' List - A list of shareholders as of the record date, certified by the Secretary of the Corporation or by a transfer agent appointed by the Board of Directors shall be prepared for every meeting of shareholders and shall be produced by the Secretary or some other officer of the Corporation thereat.

 

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Section 8. Inspectors at Meetings - In advance of any shareholders' meeting, the Board of Directors may appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof and if not so appointed the person presiding at any such meeting may, and at the request of any shareholder entitled to vote thereat shall, appoint one or more inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties as set forth in Section 611 of the Business Corporation Law, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

 

Section 9. Conduct of Meeting - All meetings of shareholders shall be presided over by the President, or if he is not present, by a Vice-President, or if neither the President nor any Vice-President is present, by a chairman thereby chosen by the shareholders at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, or in his absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every meeting but if neither the Secretary nor the Assistant Secretary is present, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1. Function and Definition - The business and property of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders.

 

Section 2. Number and Qualification - The number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be not less than one nor more than five, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors, provided that any such action of the Board shall require the vote of a majority of the entire Board. The phrase "entire Board" as used herein means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. Unless and until a different number shall be so fixed within the limits above specified, the Board shall consist of two directors. The term of any incumbent director shall not be shortened by any such action by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders.

 

Each director shall be at least twenty-one years of age. A director need not be a shareholder, a citizen of the United States or a resident of the State of New York.

 

Section 3. Election Term and Vacancies - Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of shareholders and all directors who are so elected or who are elected in the interim to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.

 

In the interim between annual meetings of shareholders, newly-created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors or from vacancies occurring in the Board, but not, except as hereinafter provided, in the case of a vacancy occurring by reason of removal of a director by the shareholders, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the directors, then remaining in office, although less than a quorum may exist.

 

In the case of a vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors by reason of the removal of one or more directors by action of the shareholders, such vacancy may be filled by the shareholders at a special meeting duly called for such purpose.

 

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In the event a vacancy is not filled by such election by shareholders, whether or not the vacancy resulted from the removal of a director with or without cause, a majority of the directors then remaining in office, although less than a quorum, may fill any such vacancy.

 

Section 4. Removal - The Board of Directors may, at any time, with cause, remove any director.

 

The shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may, at any time, remove any or all of the directors with cause.

 

Section 5. Meetings - The annual meeting of the Board of Directors for the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting, shall be held, without notice, immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders, at the same place at which such shareholders' meeting is held.

 

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place, within or outside the State of New York, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board, and when so fixed, no further notice thereof need be given. Regular meetings not fixed by resolution of the Board may be held on notice at such time and place as shall be determined by the Board.

 

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called on notice at any time by the President, and shall be called by the President at the written request of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

Section 6. Notice of Meetings - No notice shall be required for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed. Written, oral, or any other mode of notice of the time and place shall be given for special meetings in sufficient time for the convenient assembly of the directors thereat. Notice need not be given to any director or to any member of a committee of directors who submits a written waiver of notice signed by him before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of any such person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when he attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

 

Section 7. Conduct of Meetings - The President, if present, shall preside at all meetings of directors. At all meetings at which the President is not present any other director chosen by the Board shall preside.

 

Section 8. Quorum, Adjournment, Voting - Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the entire Board shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Board of Directors for the transaction of business. Where a vacancy or vacancies prevents such majority, a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum.

 

A majority of the directors present at any meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn the meeting to another time and place without further notice other than an announcement at the meeting.

 

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, when a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present shall decide any questions brought before such meeting and the act of such majority shall be the act of the Board.

 

Section 9. Action Without Meeting - Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action.

 

  4  

 

 

Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of said Board or of any such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 10. Compensation of Directors - Directors, as such, shall not receive any stated salary for their services, but, by resolution of the Board, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving reasonable compensation therefor.

 

Section 11. Committees - The Board of Directors, by resolution of a majority of the directors present at a meeting or of all of the directors if acting by written consent, may designate from among its members one or more committees, each consisting of one or more directors, and each of which, to the extent provided in such resolution, shall have all the authority of the Board except that no such committee shall have authority as to any of the following matters:

 

(a) the submission to stockholders of any action as to which stockholders' authorization or approval is required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws;

 

(b) the filing of vacancies in the Board of Directors or in any committee thereof;

 

(c) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board or on any committee thereof;

 

(d) the amendment or repeal of these Bylaws or the adoption of new Bylaws; and

 

(e) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its terms shall not be so amendable or repealable.

 

The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee who may replace any absent member or members at any meeting of such committee.

 

Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to discharge any such committee. Committees shall keep minutes of their proceedings and shall report the same to the Board of Directors at the meeting of the Board next succeeding, and any action by the committee shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of Directors, provided that no rights of a third party shall be affected in any such revision or alteration.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1. Executive Officers - The Officers of the Corporation shall be a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer and a Secretary and such Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries and other officers as the Board of Directors may determine. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary, unless all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation are owned by one person, in which event such person may hold all or any combination of offices.

 

  5  

 

 

Section 2. Election - The President, one or more Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected by the Board of Directors to hold office until the meeting of the Board held immediately following the next annual meeting of shareholders and shall hold office for the term for which elected and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint all such other officers as it may determine and such officers shall hold office from the time of their appointment and qualifications until the time at which their successors are appointed and qualified. A vacancy in any office arising from any cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3. Removal - Any officer may be removed from office by the Board at any time with or without cause.

 

Section 4. Delegation of Powers - The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the power or duties of any officer of the Corporation, in the event of his absence or failure to act otherwise, to any other officer or director or person whom they may select.

 

Section 5. Compensation - The compensation of each officer shall be such as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 6. Chief Executive Officer - The Board of Directors shall designate the President as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation who shall have general charge of the business and affairs of the Corporation, subject, however, to the right of the Board of Directors to confer specified powers on officers and subject generally to the direction of the Board.

 

Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or in the event of his inability to act, any other officer designated by the Board, shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and to act and to vote at any meetings of security holders of corporations in which the Corporation may hold securities, and at such meetings shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities, and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have possessed and exercised, if present. The Board of Directors by resolution from time to time may confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

Section 7. President - The President, if not designated as Chief Executive Officer, shall have such duties and responsibilities as the Board may prescribe.

 

Section 8. Vice-President - The Vice-President shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. In the absence or inability of the Chief Executive Officer to perform his duties or exercise his powers, the Vice-President or, if there be more than one, a Vice-President designated by the Board, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President subject to the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9. Secretary - The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and record all votes of shareholders, the Board of Directors and committees in a book to be kept for that purpose. He shall give or cause to be given any required notice of meetings of shareholders, the Board of Directors or any committee, and shall be responsible for preparing or obtaining from a transfer agent appointed by the Board, the list of shareholders required by Article II, Section 7 thereof. He shall be the custodian of the seal of the Corporation and shall affix or cause to be affixed the seal to any instrument requiring it and attest the same and exercise the powers and perform the duties incident to the office of Secretary subject to the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 10. Chief Financial Officer - Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall have charge of the general supervision of the funds and securities of the Corporation and the books of account of the Corporation and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties incident to the office of the Chief Financial Officer, subject generally to the direction of the Board. If required by the Board, he shall give to the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such sureties as may be satisfactory to the Board for the faithful discharge of his duties.

 

Section 11. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall have such duties and responsibilities as the Board may prescribe.

 

Section 12. Other Officers - All other officers, if any, shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as may be specified from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V

 

RESIGNATIONS

 

Any director or officer of the Corporation or any member of any committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time is not specified therein, upon the receipt thereof, irrespective of whether any such resignation shall have been accepted.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES

 

Section 1. Form of Certificates - Each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates in such form as prescribed by the Business Corporation Law and by any other applicable statutes, which Certificate shall represent and certify the number, kind and class of shares owned by him in the Corporation. The Certificates shall be numbered and registered in the order in which they are issued and upon issuance the name in which each Certificate has been issued together with the number of shares represented thereby and the date of issuance shall be entered in the stock book of the Corporation by the Secretary or by the transfer agent of the Corporation. Each certificate shall be signed by the President or a Vice-President and countersigned by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary and shall be sealed with the Corporate Seal or a facsimile thereof. The signature of the officers upon a certificate may also be facsimiles if the certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar other than the Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before the certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if the officer had not ceased to be such at the time of its issue.

 

Section 2. Consideration - A certificate representing shares shall not be issued until the full amount of consideration therefor has been paid to the Corporation, except if otherwise permitted by Section 504 of the Business Corporation Law.

 

Section 3. Lost Certificates - The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged to have been lost, mutilated, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person so claiming and upon delivery to the Corporation, if the Board of Directors shall so require, of a bond in such form and with such surety or sureties as the Board may direct, sufficient in amount to indemnify the Corporation and its transfer agent against any claim which may be made against it or them on account of the alleged loss, destruction, theft or mutilation of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

 

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Section 4. Fractional Share Interests - The Corporation may issue certificates for fractions of a share where necessary to effect transactions authorized by the Business Corporation Law; or it may pay in cash the fair market value of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined; or it may issue scrip in registered or bearer form over the manual or facsimile signature of an officer of the Corporation or of its agent, exchangeable as therein provided for full shares, but such scrip shall not entitle the holder to any rights of a shareholder except as therein provided.

 

Section 5. Share Transfers - Upon compliance with provisions restricting the transferability of shares, if any, transfers of shares of the Corporation shall be made only on the share record of the Corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his duly authorized attorney, upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed with payment of all taxes thereon.

 

Section 6. Record Date for Shareholders - For the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof or to express consent or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders. Such date shall not be more than fifty nor less than ten days before the date of any meeting nor more than fifty days prior to any action taken without a meeting, the payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or any other action. When a determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board fixes a new record date under this Section for the adjourned meeting.

 

Section 7. Shareholders of Record - The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of New York.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

STATUTORY NOTICES

 

The Board of Directors may appoint the Treasurer or any other officer of the Corporation to cause to be prepared and furnished to shareholders entitled thereto any special financial notice and/or statement which may be required by Sections 510, 511, 515, 516, 517, 519 and 520 of the Business Corporation Law or by any other applicable statute.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

FISCAL YEAR

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change from time to time, by the Board of Directors.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

CORPORATE SEAL

 

The Corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation and the words "Corporate Seal" and "New York" and shall be in such form and contain such other words and/or figures as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Corporate seal may be used by printing, engraving, lithographing, stamping or otherwise making, placing or affixing, or causing to be printed, engraved, lithographed, stamped or otherwise made, placed or affixed, upon any paper or document, by any process whatsoever, an impression, facsimile or other reproduction of said Corporate seal.

 

ARTICLE X

 

BOOKS AND RECORDS

 

There shall be maintained at the principal office of the Corporation books of account of all the Corporation's business and transactions.

 

There shall be maintained at the principal office of the corporation or at the office of the Corporation's transfer agent a record containing the names and addresses of all shareholders, the number and class of shares held by such and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,

EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

 

Any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, then is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or then serves or has served any other corporation in any capacity at the request of the Corporation, shall be indemnified by the Corporation against reasonable expenses, judgments, fines and amounts actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of such action or proceeding or in connection with an appeal therein, to the fullest extent permissible by the laws of the State of New York. Such right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such person may be entitled.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

AMENDMENTS

 

The shareholders entitled at the time to vote in the election of directors and the Board of Directors by vote of a majority of the entire Board, shall have the power to amend or repeal these By-Laws and to adopt new By-Laws, provided, however, that any by-law adopted, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors may be amended or repealed by the shareholders entitled to vote thereon as herein provided.

 

EFFECTIVE: January 25, 2016

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) entered into on the 8th day of August, 2016, between HML Capital Corp. , a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), having its principal place of business at 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405, and Jeffrey C. Villano, with a business address at 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405 (the “ Executive ”). The effective date of this Agreement shall be the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (the “Effective Date”).

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS , the Executive is a co-founder of the Company and a member and co-manager of JJV, LLC, the manager of the Company’s predecessor Sachem Capital Partners, LLC since its inception in 2010; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company, recognizing the unique skills and abilities of the Executive, wishes to insure that the Executive will continue to be employed by the Company; and

 

WHEREAS , the Executive desires to continue in the employment of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS , the parties desire, by this Agreement, to set forth the terms and conditions of the employment relationship between the Company and the Executive.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants in this Agreement, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

 

1. Employment and Duties .

 

(a) The Company hereby employs the Executive as its Co-Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer on the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement and Executive agrees to accept such employment subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Executive shall be a senior executive officer of the Company and, shall be co-responsible for the overall management and operations of the Company, shall perform the duties and responsibilities as are customary for the officer of a corporation in such positions, and shall perform such other duties and responsibilities as are reasonably determined from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”).

 

(b) The Executive shall report to and be supervised by the Board.

 

(c) The Executive shall be based at the Company’s principal place of business provided that such principal place of business shall be within a fifty (50) mile radius of 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405 and, except for business travel incident to his employment under this Agreement, the Company agrees the Executive shall not be required to relocate.

 

(d) The Executive agrees to devote substantially all his attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and to use his reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently the duties and responsibilities of his positions and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Company as may be established by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may engage in the following activities (and shall be entitled to retain all economic benefits thereof including fees paid in connection therewith) as long as they do not interfere in any material respect with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder and, with respect to subsections (i) and (ii) below, that such activity is pre-approved by the Board: (i) serve on corporate, civic, religious, educational and/or charitable boards or committees, provided that the Executive shall not serve on any board or committee of any corporation or other business which competes with the Business (as defined in Section 10(a) below); and (ii) make investments in businesses or enterprises and manage his personal investments; provided that with respect to such activities Executive shall comply with any business conduct and ethics policy applicable to employees of the Company.

 

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2. Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date, and shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, unless extended or earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Commencing on first anniversary of the Effective Date and continuing on the anniversary of the Effective Date of each year thereafter (each such date an “ Anniversary Date ”), this Agreement shall automatically renew for one additional year such that the remaining term shall be five years unless either party notifies the other in writing at least 180 days prior to the Anniversary Date that such party is electing not to renew the Agreement, in which case the Agreement shall terminate at the end of the fourth year following the next Anniversary Date. The date on which this Agreement terminates, would terminate or is terminated by either party is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”. The period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the Termination Date is herein sometimes referred to as the “ Employment Term ”.

 

3. Compensation . As compensation for performing the services required by this Agreement, and during the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be compensated as follows:

 

(a) Base Compensation . The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual salary (“ Base Compensation ”) of $260,000, payable in equal installments pursuant to the Company’s customary payroll procedures in effect for its executive personnel at the time of payment, but in no event less frequently than monthly, subject to withholding for applicable federal, state, and local income and employment related taxes. The Executive may be entitled to such increases in Base Compensation with respect to each calendar year during the term of this Agreement, as shall be determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”), in its sole and absolute discretion, based on an annual review of the Executive’s performance.

 

(b) Incentive Compensation . In addition to Base Compensation, for each calendar year ending within the Employment Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive additional compensation (“ Incentive Compensation ”) in an amount as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, based on the financial performance goals established by the Committee for each such calendar year (the “Performance Goals”). With the exception of the 2016 calendar year, the Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee within 30 days of December 31 st of each calendar year of the Employment Term.

 

For each calendar year during the Employment Term, the Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in an amount up to 100% of his Base Compensation, based upon the Company’s achievement of the applicable the Performance Goals established by the Board with respect to each such year. Each calendar year during the Employment Term, the Executive shall earn an Annual Bonus equal to (i) 25% of his then Base Compensation upon the achievement of a minimum threshold level of the Performance Goal set by the Board with respect to such year (the “Minimum Level”); (ii) 75% of his then Base Compensation upon the achievement of the target level of the Performance Goal set by the Board with respect to such year (the “Target Level”); and (iii) a maximum bonus equal to 100% of his then Base Compensation upon the achievement of the maximum level of the Performance Goal set by the Board with respect to such year (the “Maximum Level”). To the extent the Company’s achievement has exceeded the Performance Goal set by the Board for the (i) Minimum Level but not the Target Level, the Executive shall be entitled to an Annual Bonus equal to the percentage of his then Base Compensation determined by the linear interpolation between the Minimum Level and the Target Level bonus percentages; and (ii) Target Level but not the Maximum Level, the Executive shall be entitled to an Annual Bonus equal to the percentage of his then Base Compensation determined by the linear interpolation between the Target Level and the Maximum Level bonus percentages. For the year ending December 31, 2016, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a prorated Annual Bonus (calculated as the Annual Bonus that would have been paid for the entire calendar year multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is equal to the number of days the Executive worked in the applicable calendar year and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days in such year).

 

The Annual Bonus, if any, will be paid upon the earlier of (i) the availability of the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable fiscal year prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied or (ii) the availability of the definitively determined financial performance metrics of the Company with respect to the applicable fiscal year.

 

(c) Incentive Compensation for Capital Transactions . In addition to the achievement of Performance Goals by the Company, the Executive shall earn Incentive Compensation for certain capital transactions by the Company including, acquisitions of businesses, acquisitions of loan portfolios and other acquisitions. The amount of any such Incentive Compensation shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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4. Employee Benefits . During the Employment Term and subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 4, the Executive and his eligible dependents shall have the right to participate in any retirement plans (qualified and non-qualified), pension, insurance, health, disability or other benefit plan or program that has been or is hereafter adopted by the Company (or in which the Company participates), according to the terms of such plan or program, on terms no less favorable than the most favorable terms granted to senior executives of the Company. In the event the Executive chooses not participate in any such plan or program, he shall be entitled to additional compensation in an amount equal to the cost of any such plan or program.

 

5. Vacation and Leaves of Absence . The Executive shall be entitled to the normal and customary amount of paid vacation provided to senior executive officers of the Company, but in no event less than twenty-five (25) days during each twelve (12) month period, beginning on the Effective Date of this Agreement. Any vacation days that are not taken in a given twelve (12) month period shall not accrue or carry-over from year to year. Upon any termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, accrued and unused vacation for the year in which this Agreement terminates will be paid to the Executive within ten (10) days of such termination based on his annual rate of Base Compensation in effect on the date of such termination. In addition, the Executive may be granted leaves of absence with or without pay for such valid and legitimate reasons as the Company in its sole and absolute discretion may determine, and the Executive shall be entitled to the same sick leave and holidays provided to other senior executives of the Company.

 

6. Expenses .

 

(a)    Business Expenses . The Executive shall be promptly reimbursed against presentation of vouchers or receipts for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder including, but not limited to the following:

· life insurance;
· long term disability policy;
· tax assistance services required by the Executive;
· obtaining and/or maintaining professional licenses;
· cellular/smartphone services; and
· work related travel.

 

(b) Automobile Expense . During the Employment Term, in order to facilitate the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder, and otherwise for the convenience of the Company, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for the cost of an automobile not exceeding $1,000 per month or such greater amount as shall be approved by the Committee in advance and shall pay or reimburse Executive (upon presentation of vouchers or receipts) for the reasonable cost of fuel, all maintenance, insurance, repairs, and other reasonable expenses related to such automobile.

 

7. Indemnification .

 

(a) General . The Company agrees that if the Executive is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a director, officer, member, employee or agent, the Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by applicable law (in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and/or bylaws of the Company), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all Expenses (as defined below) incurred or suffered by the Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to the Executive even if the Executive has ceased to be an officer, director or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.

 

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(b) Expenses . As used in this Agreement, the term “ Expenses ” shall include, without limitation, damages, losses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, excise taxes, settlements and costs, attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, and disbursements and costs of attachment or similar bonds, investigations, and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

(c) Enforcement . If a claim or request under this Agreement is not paid by the Company, or on their behalf, within fifteen days after a written claim or request has been received by the Company, the Executive may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or request and if successful in whole or in part, the Executive shall be entitled to be paid also the expenses of prosecuting such suit. The burden of proving that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification for any reason shall be upon the Company.

 

(d) Subrogation . In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Executive.

 

(e) Partial Indemnification . If the Executive is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Executive for the portion of such Expenses to which the Executive is entitled.

 

(f) Advances of Expenses . Expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance upon request of the Executive that the Company pay such Expenses.

 

(g) Notice of Claim . The Executive shall give to the Company notice of any claim made against his for which indemnity will or could be sought under this Agreement. In addition, the Executive shall give the Company such information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within the Executive’s power and at such times and places as are convenient for the Executive.

 

(h) Defense of Claim . With respect to any Proceeding as to which the Executive notifies the Company of the commencement thereof: (i) the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense; and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Executive. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any action, suit or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which the Executive shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Executive in the conduct of the defense of such action.

 

The Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Executive under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. The Company shall not settle any action or claim in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on the Executive without Executive’s written consent. Neither the Company nor the Executive shall unreasonably withhold or delay their consent to any proposed settlement.

 

(i) Non-exclusivity . The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section 7 shall not be exclusive of any other right which the Executive may have or hereafter may acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, by laws, or other governing documents of the Company, agreement, vote of stockholders, members or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

(j) Directors and Officers Liability Policy . The Company agrees to use reasonable efforts to maintain directors and officers liability insurance covering the Executive in a reasonable and adequate amount determined by the Company.

 

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8. Termination and Termination Benefits .

 

(a) Termination . (i) For Cause . Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, the Company may terminate this Agreement at any time during the Employment Term for “Cause” (as defined in Section 8(f) below). Termination pursuant to this subsection 8(a)(i) shall be effective immediately upon giving the Executive written notice thereof stating the reason or reasons therefor with respect to clause (2) above, and thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from the Company to the Executive specifying the acts or omissions constituting the failure and requesting that they be remedied with respect to clause (1) above, but only if the Executive has not cured such failure within such thirty (30) day period.

 

(ii) Death and Disability . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate on the date of the Executive’s death. If due to illness, physical or mental disability, or other incapacity, the Executive shall fail, for a total of any six (6) consecutive months (“ Disability ”), to substantially perform the principal duties required by this Agreement, the Company may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Executive.

 

(iii) Without Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause at any time.

 

(iv) Good Reason . The Executive may terminate his employment hereunder for “ Good Reason ”.

 

(b) Termination Benefits.

 

(i) Termination For Cause . In the event of a termination pursuant to Section 8(a)(i) above, the Executive shall be entitled to payment of his Base Compensation and the benefits pursuant to Section 4 hereof up to the effective date of such termination and it is also the intention and agreement of the Company that Executive shall not be deprived by reason of termination for Cause of any payments, options or benefits which have been vested or have been earned or to which Executive is entitled as of the effective date of such termination.

 

(ii) Termination Without Cause, Upon Death, For Disability or For Good Reason. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause or as a result of Disability, or if this Agreement is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death, or if the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Executive (or his estate, in the case of death) shall be paid: (i) his Base Compensation at the rate in effect at the time of termination through the Termination Date; (ii) his Pro Rata Share of any Incentive Compensation to which he would have been entitled for the year in which such termination occurs; (iii) a lump sum payment equal to the product of forty-eight (48) times the Monthly Salary Amount (as defined below); (iv) any deferred compensation (including, without limitation, interest or other credits on the deferred amounts) and any accrued vacation pay; (v) continuation for a period of twelve months after such termination, of the health and welfare benefits of the Executive and any long-term disability insurance generally provided to senior executives of the Company (as provided for by Section 4 of this Agreement) (or the Company shall provide the economic equivalent thereof); provided, however, if the Executive obtains new employment and such employment makes the Executive eligible for health and welfare or long-term disability benefits which are equal to or greater in scope then the benefits then being offered by the Company, then the Company shall no longer be required to provide such benefits to the Executive; and (vi) any other compensation and benefits as may be provided in accordance with the terms and provisions of any applicable plans or programs of the Company.

 

(c) Non-exclusivity of Rights . Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided or maintained by the Company and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise prejudice such rights as the Executive may have under any other existing or future agreements with the Company. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plans or programs of the Company at or subsequent to the date of termination shall be payable in accordance with such plans or programs.

 

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(d) Vesting of Stock Grants and Stock Options . In the event of any termination of this Agreement, Executive’s rights with regard to any stock grants, loan agreements or stock options shall be as set forth in the respective agreement containing the terms and conditions pertaining thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive is terminated for reasons other than for “Cause” or in the event the Executive terminates this Agreement for “Good Reason” or in the event this Agreement is terminated by reason of Executive’s death, any stock options then held by the Executive shall immediately vest in the Executive and shall remain exercisable for the period specified in the grant agreement notwithstanding any provision therein to the contrary.

 

(e) Certain Additional Payments by the Company . Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (an “ Excise Gross-Up Payment ”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed upon the Excise Gross-Up Payment and any ordinary income tax on the Excise Gross-Up Payment in order to put the Executive in the same net after-tax position as if the payment were not subject to any Excise Tax. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8(e), all determinations required to be made hereunder, including whether an Excise Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Excise Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by such accounting firm which at the time audits the financial statements of the Company (the “ Accounting Firm ”) at the sole expense of the Company, which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement, if applicable, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.

 

If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Accounting Firm to furnish the Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his federal income tax return. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Excise Gross-Up Payments, which will not have been made by the Company, should have been made (an “ Underpayment ”) consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. If the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant hereto and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.

 

The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the Excise Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive knows of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall: (i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim; (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including (without limitation) accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith to contest effectively such claim; and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions hereof the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine, provided that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance, and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which an Excise Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

 

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If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant hereto, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company’s complying with the requirements hereof) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant hereto, a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Excise Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

 

(f) Definitions.

 

(i) Cause . For purposes of this subsection 8(a)(i), “ Cause ” shall mean (1) the continuing willful failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder for any reason other than total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness, or (2) gross negligence or gross malfeasance on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder that causes material harm to the Company. For purposes of this definition of Cause, no act or failure to act on the part of Executive shall be considered willful if it is done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good faith and with a good faith belief that Executive’s act or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

 

(ii) Pro Rata Share. The Executive’s “ Pro Rata Share ” of Incentive Compensation for any calendar year of the Company shall be a fraction whose numerator shall be equal to the number of months (or parts of months) during which the Executive was actually employed by the Company during any such calendar year and whose denominator shall be the total number of months in such calendar year.

 

(iii) Monthly Salary Amount. Monthly Salary Amount ” shall mean an amount equal to one-twelfth of the sum of (w) the Executive’s then current annual Base Compensation plus (x) the highest Incentive Compensation paid to the Executive during the most recent three calendar years.

 

(iv) Good Reason. Good Reason ” means and shall be deemed to exist if, without the prior express written consent of the Executive, (a) the Company breaches this Agreement in any material respect; (b) the Company fails to obtain the full assumption of this Agreement by a successor; (c) the Company fails to use its reasonable best efforts to maintain, or cause to be maintained directors and officers liability insurance coverage for the Executive; (d) the Company purports to terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause and such purported termination of employment is not effected in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement, or (e) a Change in Control shall have occurred; provided, however, that with respect to items (a) through (d) above, within thirty (30) days of written notice of termination by the Executive, the Company has not cured, or commenced to cure, such failure or breach, and with respect to item (e) above, the Executive shall have provided the Company with 180 days written notice of such termination.

 

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(v) Change in Control. Change in Control ” shall mean (1) any merger by the Company into another corporation or corporations which results in the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction owning less than fifty (50%) percent of the surviving Corporation; (2) any acquisition (by purchase, lease or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly in accordance with Section 409A of the IRC; (3) the acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Company (defined as Common Stock of the Company or any securities having voting rights that the Company may issue in the future) and rights to acquire voting securities of the Company (defined as including, without limitation, securities that are convertible into voting securities of the Company (as defined above) and rights, options warrants and other agreements or arrangements to acquire such voting securities) by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly, in such amount or amounts as would permit such person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly to elect a majority of the members of the Board of the Company, as then constituted; or (4) the acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting securities and rights to acquire voting securities having voting power equal to forty (40%) percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly unless such acquisition as is described in this clause (4) is expressly approved by resolution of the Board passed upon affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the Board and adopted at a meeting of the Board held not later than the date of the next regularly scheduled or special meeting held following the date the Company obtains actual knowledge of such acquisition (which approval may be limited in purpose and effect solely to affecting the rights of Employee under this Agreement). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any transaction that involves a mere change in identity form or place of organization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the IRC, or a transaction of similar effect, shall not constitute a Change in Control.

 

(g) Payment . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any payments to which the Executive shall be entitled under this Section 8, including, without limitation, any economic equivalent of any benefit, shall be made as promptly as possible following the Date of Termination. If the amount of any payment due to the Executive cannot be finally determined within 90 days after the Date of Termination, such amount shall be estimated on a good faith basis by the Company and the estimated amount shall be paid no later than ninety (90) days after such Date of Termination. As soon as practicable hereafter, the final determination of the amount due shall be made and any adjustment requiring a payment to or from the Executive shall be made as promptly as practicable.

 

(h) No Mitigation . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payments provided for by this Agreement by seeking employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided in this Agreement be reduced by any compensation or benefit earned by the Executive after termination of his employment.

 

9. Company Property . All confidential and proprietary information furnished to the Executive by the Company or developed by the Executive on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s direction or for the Company’s use or otherwise in connection with the Executive’s employment hereunder, are and shall remain the sole and confidential property of the Company; if the Company requests the return of such materials at any time during or at or after the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall immediately deliver the same to the Company.

 

10. Covenant Not To Compete .

 

(a) Covenants Against Competition .

 

(i) The Executive acknowledges that as of the execution of this Employment Agreement (i) the Company is engaged in real estate finance specializing in originating, servicing and managing a portfolio of first mortgage loans to real estate investors to fund their acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, development or improvement of residential or commercial properties located primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York (the “ Business ”); (ii) the Company’s Business is primarily conducted currently in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York and may be expanded to other locations; (iii) his employment with the Company will have given him access to confidential information concerning the Company; and (iv) the agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the Company. Accordingly, the Executive covenants and agrees as follows:

 

(ii) Without the prior written consent of the Board, the Executive shall not during the Restricted Period (as defined below) within the Restricted Area (as defined below) (except in the Executive’s capacity as an officer of the Company or any of its affiliates), (a) engage or participate in the Business; (b) enter the employ of, or render any services (whether or not for a fee or other compensation) to, any person engaged in the Business; or (c) acquire an equity interest in any such person; provided, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply at any time if the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Term by the Executive for Good Reason (as defined in Section 8(b) above) or by the Company other than for “Cause”; provided, further, that during the Restricted Period the Executive may own, directly or indirectly, solely as a passive investment, securities of any company traded on any national securities exchange or on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System.

 

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(iii) As used herein: (A) Restricted Period ” shall mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Executive’s termination of employment; and (B) Restricted Area ” shall mean any place within Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York and any other location in which the Company is then actively considering conducting Business.

 

(b) Confidential Information; Personal Relationships . The Executive acknowledges that the Company has a legitimate and continuing proprietary interest in the protection of its confidential information and has invested substantial sums and will continue to invest substantial sums to develop, maintain and protect confidential information. The Executive agrees that, during and after the Restricted Period, without the prior written consent of the Board, the Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not knowingly use for the benefit of himself or others all confidential matters relating to the Company’s Business including, without limitation, operational methods, marketing or development plans or strategies, business acquisition plans, joint venture proposals or plans, and new personnel acquisition plans, learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter (such information shall be referred to herein collectively as “ Confidential Information ”); provided, that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Executive from disclosing or using any Confidential Information (A) in the performance of his duties hereunder, (B) as required by applicable law, (C) in connection with the enforcement of his rights under this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, or (D) in connection with the defense or settlement of any claim, suit or action brought or threatened against the Executive by or in the right of the Company. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, the term Confidential Information shall not be deemed to include any general knowledge, skills or experience acquired by the Executive or any knowledge or information known or available to the public in general. Moreover, the Executive shall be permitted to retain copies of, or have access to, all such Confidential Information relating to any disagreement, dispute or litigation (pending or threatened) involving the Executive.

 

(c) Employees of the Company and its Affiliates . During the Restricted Period, without the prior written consent of the Board of the Company, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, hire or solicit, or cause others to hire or solicit, for employment by any person other than the Company or any affiliate or successor thereof, any employee of, or person employed within the two years preceding the Executive’s hiring or solicitation of such person by, the Company and its affiliates or successors or encourage any such employee to leave his employment. For this purpose, any person whose employment has been terminated involuntarily by the Company shall be excluded from those persons protected by this Section for the benefit of the Company.

 

(d) Business Relationships . During the Restricted Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, request or advise a person that has a business relationship with the Company to curtail or cancel such person’s business relationship with the Company.

 

(e) Rights and Remedies Upon Breach . If the Executive breaches, threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions contained in Section 10 of this Agreement (the “ Restrictive Covenants ”), the Company shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of the others and severally enforceable, and each of which is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Company under law or in equity:

 

(i) Specific Performance . The right and remedy to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, it being agreed that any breach or threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants would cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the Company.

 

(ii) Accounting . The right and remedy to require the Executive to account for and pay over to the Company all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits derived or received by the Executive as the result of any action constituting a breach of Restrictive Covenants.

 

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(f) Severability of Covenants . The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Restrictive Covenants are reasonable and valid in duration and geographical scope and in all other respects. If any court determines that any of the Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid portions. The provisions set forth in Section 10 above shall be in addition to any other provisions of the business conduct and ethics policy applicable to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries during the term of Executive’s employment.

 

(g) Saving Clause . If the period of time or the area specified in subsection (a) above should be adjudged unreasonable in any proceeding, then the period of time shall be reduced by such number of months or the area shall be reduced by the elimination of such portion thereof or both so that such restrictions may be enforced in such area and for such time as is adjudged to be reasonable. If the Executive violates any of the restrictions contained in the foregoing subsection (a), the restrictive period shall not run in favor of the Executive from the time of the commencement of any such violation until such time as such violation shall be cured by the Executive to the satisfaction of Company.

 

11. Executive’s Representation and Warranties. Executive represents and warrants that he has the full right and authority to enter into this Agreement and fully perform his obligations hereunder, that he is not subject to any non-competition agreement other than with the Company, and that his past, present and anticipated future activities have not and will not infringe on the proprietary rights of others. Executive further represents and warrants that he is not obligated under any contract (including, but not limited to, licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency which would conflict with his obligation to use his best efforts to perform his duties hereunder or which would conflict with the Company’s business and operations as presently conducted or proposed to be conducted. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement, nor the carrying on of the Company’s business as officer and employee by Executive will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of or constitute a default under any contract, covenant or instrument to which Executive is currently a party.

 

12. Miscellaneous .

 

(a) Integration; Amendment . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior understandings and agreements between the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by both parties.

 

(b) Severability . If any part of this Agreement is contrary to, prohibited by, or deemed invalid under applicable law or regulations, such provision shall be inapplicable and deemed omitted to the extent so contrary, prohibited, or invalid, but the remainder of this Agreement shall not be invalid and shall be given full force and effect so far as possible.

 

(c) Waivers . The failure or delay of any party at any time to require performance by the other party of any provision of this Agreement, even if known, shall not affect the right of such party to require performance of that provision or to exercise any right, power, or remedy hereunder, and any waiver by any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right, power, or remedy under this Agreement. No notice to or demand on any party in any case shall, of itself, entitle such party to other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(d) Power and Authority . The Company represents and warrants to the Executive that it has the requisite corporate power to enter into this Agreement and perform the terms hereof; that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all appropriate corporate action; and that this Agreement represents the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

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(e) Burden and Benefit; Survival . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, personal and legal representatives, successors and assigns. In addition to, and not in limitation of, anything contained in this Agreement, it is expressly understood and agreed that the Company’s obligation to pay Termination Compensation as set forth herein shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

(f) Governing Law; Headings . This Agreement and its construction, performance, and enforceability shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. Headings and titles herein are included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in connection with, the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(g) Arbitration; Remedies . Any dispute or controversy arising under this Agreement or as a result of or in connection with Executive’s employment (other than disputes arising under Section 10) shall be arbitrated and settled pursuant to the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association which are then in effect in a proceeding held in New York, New York. This provision shall also apply to any and all claims that may be brought under any federal or state anti-discrimination or employment statute, rule or regulation, including, but not limited to, claims under: the National Labor Relations Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; the Immigration Reform and Control Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; and the Equal Pay Act. The decision of the arbitrator and award, if any, is final and binding on the parties and the judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties will agree upon an arbitrator from the list of labor arbitrators supplied by the American Arbitration Association. The parties understand and agree, however, that disputes arising under Section 10 of this Agreement may be brought in a court of law or equity without submission to arbitration.

 

(h) Jurisdiction . Except as otherwise provided for herein, each of the parties (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state court sitting in New York, New York or federal court sitting in New York County in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court and (d) waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury with respect to any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the parties waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party may make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for giving of notices in Section 12(i). Nothing in this Section, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

(i) Notices . All notices called for under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt if delivered personally or by confirmed facsimile transmission and followed promptly by mail, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at their respective addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice; provided that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof) as set forth in the preamble to this Agreement or to any other address or addressee as any party entitled to receive notice under this Agreement shall designate, from time to time, to others in the manner provided in this subsection 12(i) for the service of notices.

 

Any notice delivered to the party hereto to whom it is addressed shall be deemed to have been given and received on the day it was received; provided, however, that if such day is not a business day then the notice shall be deemed to have been given and received on the business day next following such day. Any notice sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to have been given and received on the business day next following the day of transmission.

 

(j) Number of Days . In computing the number of days for purposes of this Agreement, all days shall be counted, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that if the final day of any time period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which federal banks are or may elect to be closed, then the final day shall be deemed to be the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or such holiday.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  HML CAPITAL CORP. ,
     
  By: /s/ John L. Villano
    John L. Villano
     
    /s/ Jeffrey C. Villano
    Jeffrey C. Villano

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) entered into on the 8th day of August, 2016, between HML Capital Corp. , a New York corporation (the “ Company ”), having its principal place of business at 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405, and John L. Villano, with a business address at 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405 (the “ Executive ”). The effective date of this Agreement shall be the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (the “Effective Date”).

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS , the Executive is a co-founder of the Company and a member and co-manager of JJV, LLC, the manager of the Company’s predecessor Sachem Capital Partners, LLC since its inception in 2010; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company, recognizing the unique skills and abilities of the Executive, wishes to insure that the Executive will continue to be employed by the Company; and

 

WHEREAS , the Executive desires to continue in the employment of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS , the parties desire, by this Agreement, to set forth the terms and conditions of the employment relationship between the Company and the Executive.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants in this Agreement, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

 

1. Employment and Duties .

 

(a) The Company hereby employs the Executive as its Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board on the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement and Executive agrees to accept such employment subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Executive shall be a senior executive officer of the Company and, shall be co-responsible for the overall management and operations of the Company, shall perform the duties and responsibilities as are customary for the officer of a corporation in such positions, and shall perform such other duties and responsibilities as are reasonably determined from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”).

 

(b) The Executive shall report to and be supervised by the Board.

 

(c) The Executive shall be based at the Company’s principal place of business provided that such principal place of business shall be within a fifty (50) mile radius of 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405 and, except for business travel incident to his employment under this Agreement, the Company agrees the Executive shall not be required to relocate.

 

(d) The Executive agrees to devote substantially all his attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and to use his reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently the duties and responsibilities of his positions and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Company as may be established by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may engage in the following activities (and shall be entitled to retain all economic benefits thereof including fees paid in connection therewith) as long as they do not interfere in any material respect with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder and, with respect to subsections (i) and (ii) below, that such activity is pre-approved by the Board: (i) serve on corporate, civic, religious, educational and/or charitable boards or committees, provided that the Executive shall not serve on any board or committee of any corporation or other business which competes with the Business (as defined in Section 10(a) below); and (ii) make investments in businesses or enterprises and manage his personal investments; provided that with respect to such activities Executive shall comply with any business conduct and ethics policy applicable to employees of the Company.

 

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2. Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date, and shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, unless extended or earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Commencing on first anniversary of the Effective Date and continuing on the anniversary of the Effective Date of each year thereafter (each such date an “ Anniversary Date ”), this Agreement shall automatically renew for one additional year such that the remaining term shall be five years unless either party notifies the other in writing at least 180 days prior to the Anniversary Date that such party is electing not to renew the Agreement, in which case the Agreement shall terminate at the end of the fourth year following the next Anniversary Date. The date on which this Agreement terminates, would terminate or is terminated by either party is herein referred to as the “ Termination Date ”. The period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the Termination Date is herein sometimes referred to as the “ Employment Term ”.

 

3. Compensation . As compensation for performing the services required by this Agreement, and during the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be compensated as follows:

 

(a) Base Compensation . The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual salary (“ Base Compensation ”) of $260,000, payable in equal installments pursuant to the Company’s customary payroll procedures in effect for its executive personnel at the time of payment, but in no event less frequently than monthly, subject to withholding for applicable federal, state, and local income and employment related taxes. The Executive may be entitled to such increases in Base Compensation with respect to each calendar year during the term of this Agreement, as shall be determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”), in its sole and absolute discretion, based on an annual review of the Executive’s performance.

 

(b) Incentive Compensation . In addition to Base Compensation, for each calendar year ending within the Employment Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive additional compensation (“ Incentive Compensation ”) in an amount as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, based on the financial performance goals established by the Committee for each such calendar year (the “Performance Goals”). With the exception of the 2016 calendar year, the Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee within 30 days of December 31 st of each calendar year of the Employment Term.

 

For each calendar year during the Employment Term, the Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in an amount up to 100% of his Base Compensation, based upon the Company’s achievement of the applicable the Performance Goals established by the Board with respect to each such year. Each calendar year during the Employment Term, the Executive shall earn an Annual Bonus equal to (i) 25% of his then Base Compensation upon the achievement of a minimum threshold level of the Performance Goal set by the Board with respect to such year (the “Minimum Level”); (ii) 75% of his then Base Compensation upon the achievement of the target level of the Performance Goal set by the Board with respect to such year (the “Target Level”); and (iii) a maximum bonus equal to 100% of his then Base Compensation upon the achievement of the maximum level of the Performance Goal set by the Board with respect to such year (the “Maximum Level”). To the extent the Company’s achievement has exceeded the Performance Goal set by the Board for the (i) Minimum Level but not the Target Level, the Executive shall be entitled to an Annual Bonus equal to the percentage of his then Base Compensation determined by the linear interpolation between the Minimum Level and the Target Level bonus percentages; and (ii) Target Level but not the Maximum Level, the Executive shall be entitled to an Annual Bonus equal to the percentage of his then Base Compensation determined by the linear interpolation between the Target Level and the Maximum Level bonus percentages. For the year ending December 31, 2016, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a prorated Annual Bonus (calculated as the Annual Bonus that would have been paid for the entire calendar year multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is equal to the number of days the Executive worked in the applicable calendar year and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days in such year).

 

The Annual Bonus, if any, will be paid upon the earlier of (i) the availability of the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable fiscal year prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied or (ii) the availability of the definitively determined financial performance metrics of the Company with respect to the applicable fiscal year.

 

(c) Incentive Compensation for Capital Transactions . In addition to the achievement of Performance Goals by the Company, the Executive shall earn Incentive Compensation for certain capital transactions by the Company including, acquisitions of businesses, acquisitions of loan portfolios and other acquisitions. The amount of any such Incentive Compensation shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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4. Employee Benefits . During the Employment Term and subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 4, the Executive and his eligible dependents shall have the right to participate in any retirement plans (qualified and non-qualified), pension, insurance, health, disability or other benefit plan or program that has been or is hereafter adopted by the Company (or in which the Company participates), according to the terms of such plan or program, on terms no less favorable than the most favorable terms granted to senior executives of the Company. In the event the Executive chooses not participate in any such plan or program, he shall be entitled to additional compensation in an amount equal to the cost of any such plan or program.

 

5. Vacation and Leaves of Absence . The Executive shall be entitled to the normal and customary amount of paid vacation provided to senior executive officers of the Company, but in no event less than twenty-five (25) days during each twelve (12) month period, beginning on the Effective Date of this Agreement. Any vacation days that are not taken in a given twelve (12) month period shall not accrue or carry-over from year to year. Upon any termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, accrued and unused vacation for the year in which this Agreement terminates will be paid to the Executive within ten (10) days of such termination based on his annual rate of Base Compensation in effect on the date of such termination. In addition, the Executive may be granted leaves of absence with or without pay for such valid and legitimate reasons as the Company in its sole and absolute discretion may determine, and the Executive shall be entitled to the same sick leave and holidays provided to other senior executives of the Company.

 

6. Expenses .

 

(a)    Business Expenses . The Executive shall be promptly reimbursed against presentation of vouchers or receipts for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder including, but not limited to the following:

· life insurance;
· long term disability policy;
· tax assistance services required by the Executive;
· obtaining and/or maintaining professional licenses;
· cellular/smartphone services; and
· work related travel.

 

(b) Automobile Expense . During the Employment Term, in order to facilitate the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder, and otherwise for the convenience of the Company, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for the cost of an automobile not exceeding $1,000 per month or such greater amount as shall be approved by the Committee in advance and shall pay or reimburse Executive (upon presentation of vouchers or receipts) for the reasonable cost of fuel, all maintenance, insurance, repairs, and other reasonable expenses related to such automobile.

 

7. Indemnification .

 

(a) General . The Company agrees that if the Executive is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a director, officer, member, employee or agent, the Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by applicable law (in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and/or bylaws of the Company), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all Expenses (as defined below) incurred or suffered by the Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to the Executive even if the Executive has ceased to be an officer, director or agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.

 

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(b) Expenses . As used in this Agreement, the term “ Expenses ” shall include, without limitation, damages, losses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, excise taxes, settlements and costs, attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, and disbursements and costs of attachment or similar bonds, investigations, and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

(c) Enforcement . If a claim or request under this Agreement is not paid by the Company, or on their behalf, within fifteen days after a written claim or request has been received by the Company, the Executive may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or request and if successful in whole or in part, the Executive shall be entitled to be paid also the expenses of prosecuting such suit. The burden of proving that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification for any reason shall be upon the Company.

 

(d) Subrogation . In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Executive.

 

(e) Partial Indemnification . If the Executive is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Executive for the portion of such Expenses to which the Executive is entitled.

 

(f) Advances of Expenses . Expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance upon request of the Executive that the Company pay such Expenses.

 

(g) Notice of Claim . The Executive shall give to the Company notice of any claim made against his for which indemnity will or could be sought under this Agreement. In addition, the Executive shall give the Company such information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within the Executive’s power and at such times and places as are convenient for the Executive.

 

(h) Defense of Claim . With respect to any Proceeding as to which the Executive notifies the Company of the commencement thereof: (i) the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense; and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Executive. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any action, suit or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which the Executive shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Executive in the conduct of the defense of such action.

 

The Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Executive under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. The Company shall not settle any action or claim in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on the Executive without Executive’s written consent. Neither the Company nor the Executive shall unreasonably withhold or delay their consent to any proposed settlement.

 

(i) Non-exclusivity . The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section 7 shall not be exclusive of any other right which the Executive may have or hereafter may acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, by laws, or other governing documents of the Company, agreement, vote of stockholders, members or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

(j) Directors and Officers Liability Policy . The Company agrees to use reasonable efforts to maintain directors and officers liability insurance covering the Executive in a reasonable and adequate amount determined by the Company.

 

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8. Termination and Termination Benefits .

 

(a) Termination . (i) For Cause . Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, the Company may terminate this Agreement at any time during the Employment Term for “Cause” (as defined in Section 8(f) below). Termination pursuant to this subsection 8(a)(i) shall be effective immediately upon giving the Executive written notice thereof stating the reason or reasons therefor with respect to clause (2) above, and thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from the Company to the Executive specifying the acts or omissions constituting the failure and requesting that they be remedied with respect to clause (1) above, but only if the Executive has not cured such failure within such thirty (30) day period.

 

(ii) Death and Disability . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate on the date of the Executive’s death. If due to illness, physical or mental disability, or other incapacity, the Executive shall fail, for a total of any six (6) consecutive months (“ Disability ”), to substantially perform the principal duties required by this Agreement, the Company may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Executive.

 

(iii) Without Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause at any time.

 

(iv) Good Reason . The Executive may terminate his employment hereunder for “ Good Reason ”.

 

(b) Termination Benefits.

 

(i) Termination For Cause . In the event of a termination pursuant to Section 8(a)(i) above, the Executive shall be entitled to payment of his Base Compensation and the benefits pursuant to Section 4 hereof up to the effective date of such termination and it is also the intention and agreement of the Company that Executive shall not be deprived by reason of termination for Cause of any payments, options or benefits which have been vested or have been earned or to which Executive is entitled as of the effective date of such termination.

 

(ii) Termination Without Cause, Upon Death, For Disability or For Good Reason. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause or as a result of Disability, or if this Agreement is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death, or if the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Executive (or his estate, in the case of death) shall be paid: (i) his Base Compensation at the rate in effect at the time of termination through the Termination Date; (ii) his Pro Rata Share of any Incentive Compensation to which he would have been entitled for the year in which such termination occurs; (iii) a lump sum payment equal to the product of forty-eight (48) times the Monthly Salary Amount (as defined below); (iv) any deferred compensation (including, without limitation, interest or other credits on the deferred amounts) and any accrued vacation pay; (v) continuation for a period of twelve months after such termination, of the health and welfare benefits of the Executive and any long-term disability insurance generally provided to senior executives of the Company (as provided for by Section 4 of this Agreement) (or the Company shall provide the economic equivalent thereof); provided, however, if the Executive obtains new employment and such employment makes the Executive eligible for health and welfare or long-term disability benefits which are equal to or greater in scope then the benefits then being offered by the Company, then the Company shall no longer be required to provide such benefits to the Executive; and (vi) any other compensation and benefits as may be provided in accordance with the terms and provisions of any applicable plans or programs of the Company.

 

(c) Non-exclusivity of Rights . Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided or maintained by the Company and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise prejudice such rights as the Executive may have under any other existing or future agreements with the Company. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plans or programs of the Company at or subsequent to the date of termination shall be payable in accordance with such plans or programs.

 

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(d) Vesting of Stock Grants and Stock Options . In the event of any termination of this Agreement, Executive’s rights with regard to any stock grants, loan agreements or stock options shall be as set forth in the respective agreement containing the terms and conditions pertaining thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive is terminated for reasons other than for “Cause” or in the event the Executive terminates this Agreement for “Good Reason” or in the event this Agreement is terminated by reason of Executive’s death, any stock options then held by the Executive shall immediately vest in the Executive and shall remain exercisable for the period specified in the grant agreement notwithstanding any provision therein to the contrary.

 

(e) Certain Additional Payments by the Company . Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (an “ Excise Gross-Up Payment ”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed upon the Excise Gross-Up Payment and any ordinary income tax on the Excise Gross-Up Payment in order to put the Executive in the same net after-tax position as if the payment were not subject to any Excise Tax. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8(e), all determinations required to be made hereunder, including whether an Excise Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Excise Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by such accounting firm which at the time audits the financial statements of the Company (the “ Accounting Firm ”) at the sole expense of the Company, which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement, if applicable, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.

 

If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Accounting Firm to furnish the Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his federal income tax return. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Excise Gross-Up Payments, which will not have been made by the Company, should have been made (an “ Underpayment ”) consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. If the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant hereto and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.

 

The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the Excise Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive knows of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall: (i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim; (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including (without limitation) accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith to contest effectively such claim; and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions hereof the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine, provided that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance, and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which an Excise Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

 

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If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant hereto, the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company’s complying with the requirements hereof) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant hereto, a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days after such determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Excise Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

 

(f) Definitions.

 

(i) Cause . For purposes of this subsection 8(a)(i), “ Cause ” shall mean (1) the continuing willful failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder for any reason other than total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness, or (2) gross negligence or gross malfeasance on the part of the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder that causes material harm to the Company. For purposes of this definition of Cause, no act or failure to act on the part of Executive shall be considered willful if it is done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good faith and with a good faith belief that Executive’s act or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

 

(ii) Pro Rata Share. The Executive’s “ Pro Rata Share ” of Incentive Compensation for any calendar year of the Company shall be a fraction whose numerator shall be equal to the number of months (or parts of months) during which the Executive was actually employed by the Company during any such calendar year and whose denominator shall be the total number of months in such calendar year.

 

(iii) Monthly Salary Amount. Monthly Salary Amount ” shall mean an amount equal to one-twelfth of the sum of (w) the Executive’s then current annual Base Compensation plus (x) the highest Incentive Compensation paid to the Executive during the most recent three calendar years.

 

(iv) Good Reason. Good Reason ” means and shall be deemed to exist if, without the prior express written consent of the Executive, (a) the Company breaches this Agreement in any material respect; (b) the Company fails to obtain the full assumption of this Agreement by a successor; (c) the Company fails to use its reasonable best efforts to maintain, or cause to be maintained directors and officers liability insurance coverage for the Executive; (d) the Company purports to terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause and such purported termination of employment is not effected in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement, or (e) a Change in Control shall have occurred; provided, however, that with respect to items (a) through (d) above, within thirty (30) days of written notice of termination by the Executive, the Company has not cured, or commenced to cure, such failure or breach, and with respect to item (e) above, the Executive shall have provided the Company with 180 days written notice of such termination.

 

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(v) Change in Control. Change in Control ” shall mean (1) any merger by the Company into another corporation or corporations which results in the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction owning less than fifty (50%) percent of the surviving Corporation; (2) any acquisition (by purchase, lease or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly in accordance with Section 409A of the IRC; (3) the acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Company (defined as Common Stock of the Company or any securities having voting rights that the Company may issue in the future) and rights to acquire voting securities of the Company (defined as including, without limitation, securities that are convertible into voting securities of the Company (as defined above) and rights, options warrants and other agreements or arrangements to acquire such voting securities) by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly, in such amount or amounts as would permit such person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly to elect a majority of the members of the Board of the Company, as then constituted; or (4) the acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of voting securities and rights to acquire voting securities having voting power equal to forty (40%) percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities by any person, corporation or other entity or group thereof acting jointly unless such acquisition as is described in this clause (4) is expressly approved by resolution of the Board passed upon affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the Board and adopted at a meeting of the Board held not later than the date of the next regularly scheduled or special meeting held following the date the Company obtains actual knowledge of such acquisition (which approval may be limited in purpose and effect solely to affecting the rights of Employee under this Agreement). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any transaction that involves a mere change in identity form or place of organization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the IRC, or a transaction of similar effect, shall not constitute a Change in Control.

 

(g) Payment . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any payments to which the Executive shall be entitled under this Section 8, including, without limitation, any economic equivalent of any benefit, shall be made as promptly as possible following the Date of Termination. If the amount of any payment due to the Executive cannot be finally determined within 90 days after the Date of Termination, such amount shall be estimated on a good faith basis by the Company and the estimated amount shall be paid no later than ninety (90) days after such Date of Termination. As soon as practicable hereafter, the final determination of the amount due shall be made and any adjustment requiring a payment to or from the Executive shall be made as promptly as practicable.

 

(h) No Mitigation . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payments provided for by this Agreement by seeking employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided in this Agreement be reduced by any compensation or benefit earned by the Executive after termination of his employment.

 

9. Company Property . All confidential and proprietary information furnished to the Executive by the Company or developed by the Executive on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s direction or for the Company’s use or otherwise in connection with the Executive’s employment hereunder, are and shall remain the sole and confidential property of the Company; if the Company requests the return of such materials at any time during or at or after the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall immediately deliver the same to the Company.

 

10. Covenant Not To Compete .

 

(a) Covenants Against Competition .

 

(i) The Executive acknowledges that as of the execution of this Employment Agreement (i) the Company is engaged in real estate finance specializing in originating, servicing and managing a portfolio of first mortgage loans to real estate investors to fund their acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, development or improvement of residential or commercial properties located primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York (the “ Business ”); (ii) the Company’s Business is primarily conducted currently in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York and may be expanded to other locations; (iii) his employment with the Company will have given him access to confidential information concerning the Company; and (iv) the agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the Company. Accordingly, the Executive covenants and agrees as follows:

 

(ii) Without the prior written consent of the Board, the Executive shall not during the Restricted Period (as defined below) within the Restricted Area (as defined below) (except in the Executive’s capacity as an officer of the Company or any of its affiliates), (a) engage or participate in the Business; (b) enter the employ of, or render any services (whether or not for a fee or other compensation) to, any person engaged in the Business; or (c) acquire an equity interest in any such person; provided, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply at any time if the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Term by the Executive for Good Reason (as defined in Section 8(b) above) or by the Company other than for “Cause”; provided, further, that during the Restricted Period the Executive may own, directly or indirectly, solely as a passive investment, securities of any company traded on any national securities exchange or on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System.

 

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(iii) As used herein: (A) Restricted Period ” shall mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Executive’s termination of employment; and (B) Restricted Area ” shall mean any place within Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York and any other location in which the Company is then actively considering conducting Business.

 

(b) Confidential Information; Personal Relationships . The Executive acknowledges that the Company has a legitimate and continuing proprietary interest in the protection of its confidential information and has invested substantial sums and will continue to invest substantial sums to develop, maintain and protect confidential information. The Executive agrees that, during and after the Restricted Period, without the prior written consent of the Board, the Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not knowingly use for the benefit of himself or others all confidential matters relating to the Company’s Business including, without limitation, operational methods, marketing or development plans or strategies, business acquisition plans, joint venture proposals or plans, and new personnel acquisition plans, learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter (such information shall be referred to herein collectively as “ Confidential Information ”); provided, that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Executive from disclosing or using any Confidential Information (A) in the performance of his duties hereunder, (B) as required by applicable law, (C) in connection with the enforcement of his rights under this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, or (D) in connection with the defense or settlement of any claim, suit or action brought or threatened against the Executive by or in the right of the Company. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, the term Confidential Information shall not be deemed to include any general knowledge, skills or experience acquired by the Executive or any knowledge or information known or available to the public in general. Moreover, the Executive shall be permitted to retain copies of, or have access to, all such Confidential Information relating to any disagreement, dispute or litigation (pending or threatened) involving the Executive.

 

(c) Employees of the Company and its Affiliates . During the Restricted Period, without the prior written consent of the Board of the Company, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, hire or solicit, or cause others to hire or solicit, for employment by any person other than the Company or any affiliate or successor thereof, any employee of, or person employed within the two years preceding the Executive’s hiring or solicitation of such person by, the Company and its affiliates or successors or encourage any such employee to leave his employment. For this purpose, any person whose employment has been terminated involuntarily by the Company shall be excluded from those persons protected by this Section for the benefit of the Company.

 

(d) Business Relationships . During the Restricted Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, request or advise a person that has a business relationship with the Company to curtail or cancel such person’s business relationship with the Company.

 

(e) Rights and Remedies Upon Breach . If the Executive breaches, threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions contained in Section 10 of this Agreement (the “ Restrictive Covenants ”), the Company shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of the others and severally enforceable, and each of which is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Company under law or in equity:

 

(i) Specific Performance . The right and remedy to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, it being agreed that any breach or threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants would cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the Company.

 

(ii) Accounting . The right and remedy to require the Executive to account for and pay over to the Company all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits derived or received by the Executive as the result of any action constituting a breach of Restrictive Covenants.

 

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(f) Severability of Covenants . The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Restrictive Covenants are reasonable and valid in duration and geographical scope and in all other respects. If any court determines that any of the Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid portions. The provisions set forth in Section 10 above shall be in addition to any other provisions of the business conduct and ethics policy applicable to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries during the term of Executive’s employment.

 

(g) Saving Clause . If the period of time or the area specified in subsection (a) above should be adjudged unreasonable in any proceeding, then the period of time shall be reduced by such number of months or the area shall be reduced by the elimination of such portion thereof or both so that such restrictions may be enforced in such area and for such time as is adjudged to be reasonable. If the Executive violates any of the restrictions contained in the foregoing subsection (a), the restrictive period shall not run in favor of the Executive from the time of the commencement of any such violation until such time as such violation shall be cured by the Executive to the satisfaction of Company.

 

11. Executive’s Representation and Warranties. Executive represents and warrants that he has the full right and authority to enter into this Agreement and fully perform his obligations hereunder, that he is not subject to any non-competition agreement other than with the Company, and that his past, present and anticipated future activities have not and will not infringe on the proprietary rights of others. Executive further represents and warrants that he is not obligated under any contract (including, but not limited to, licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency which would conflict with his obligation to use his best efforts to perform his duties hereunder or which would conflict with the Company’s business and operations as presently conducted or proposed to be conducted. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement, nor the carrying on of the Company’s business as officer and employee by Executive will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of or constitute a default under any contract, covenant or instrument to which Executive is currently a party.

 

12. Miscellaneous .

 

(a) Integration; Amendment . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes and renders of no force and effect all prior understandings and agreements between the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by both parties.

 

(b) Severability . If any part of this Agreement is contrary to, prohibited by, or deemed invalid under applicable law or regulations, such provision shall be inapplicable and deemed omitted to the extent so contrary, prohibited, or invalid, but the remainder of this Agreement shall not be invalid and shall be given full force and effect so far as possible.

 

(c) Waivers . The failure or delay of any party at any time to require performance by the other party of any provision of this Agreement, even if known, shall not affect the right of such party to require performance of that provision or to exercise any right, power, or remedy hereunder, and any waiver by any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right, power, or remedy under this Agreement. No notice to or demand on any party in any case shall, of itself, entitle such party to other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(d) Power and Authority . The Company represents and warrants to the Executive that it has the requisite corporate power to enter into this Agreement and perform the terms hereof; that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all appropriate corporate action; and that this Agreement represents the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

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(e) Burden and Benefit; Survival . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, personal and legal representatives, successors and assigns. In addition to, and not in limitation of, anything contained in this Agreement, it is expressly understood and agreed that the Company’s obligation to pay Termination Compensation as set forth herein shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

(f) Governing Law; Headings . This Agreement and its construction, performance, and enforceability shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. Headings and titles herein are included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in connection with, the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(g) Arbitration; Remedies . Any dispute or controversy arising under this Agreement or as a result of or in connection with Executive’s employment (other than disputes arising under Section 10) shall be arbitrated and settled pursuant to the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association which are then in effect in a proceeding held in New York, New York. This provision shall also apply to any and all claims that may be brought under any federal or state anti-discrimination or employment statute, rule or regulation, including, but not limited to, claims under: the National Labor Relations Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; the Immigration Reform and Control Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; and the Equal Pay Act. The decision of the arbitrator and award, if any, is final and binding on the parties and the judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties will agree upon an arbitrator from the list of labor arbitrators supplied by the American Arbitration Association. The parties understand and agree, however, that disputes arising under Section 10 of this Agreement may be brought in a court of law or equity without submission to arbitration.

 

(h) Jurisdiction . Except as otherwise provided for herein, each of the parties (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state court sitting in New York, New York or federal court sitting in New York County in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court and (d) waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury with respect to any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the parties waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party may make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for giving of notices in Section 12(i). Nothing in this Section, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

(i) Notices . All notices called for under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt if delivered personally or by confirmed facsimile transmission and followed promptly by mail, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at their respective addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice; provided that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof) as set forth in the preamble to this Agreement or to any other address or addressee as any party entitled to receive notice under this Agreement shall designate, from time to time, to others in the manner provided in this subsection 12(i) for the service of notices.

 

Any notice delivered to the party hereto to whom it is addressed shall be deemed to have been given and received on the day it was received; provided, however, that if such day is not a business day then the notice shall be deemed to have been given and received on the business day next following such day. Any notice sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to have been given and received on the business day next following the day of transmission.

 

(j) Number of Days . In computing the number of days for purposes of this Agreement, all days shall be counted, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that if the final day of any time period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which federal banks are or may elect to be closed, then the final day shall be deemed to be the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or such holiday.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  HML CAPITAL CORP. ,
     
  By: /s/ Jeffrey C. Villano
    Jeffrey C. Villano
     
    /s/ John L. Villano
    John L. Villano

 

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Exhibit 10.3

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

 

2016 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

 

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

 

2016 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

 

  Section Page
     
1. Purpose; Types of Awards; Construction. 1
     
2. Definitions. 1
     
3. Administration. 4
     
4. Eligibility. 5
     
5. Shares Subject to the Plan. 5
     
6. Specific Terms of Awards. 6
     
7. General Provisions. 9

 

 

 

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

 

2016 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

 

1.           Purpose; Types of Awards; Construction.

 

The purposes of the Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Compensation Plan (the " Plan ") are to afford an incentive to Non-Employee Directors, selected officers and other employees, advisors and consultants of Sachem Capital Corp. (the " Company "), or any Subsidiary that now exists or hereafter is organized or acquired, to continue as Non-Employee Directors, officers or employees, advisors or consultants, as the case may be, to increase their efforts on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company's business. The Plan provides for the grant of Restricted Shares and Options, including "incentive stock options" and "nonqualified stock options". The Plan is designed so that Awards granted hereunder intended to comply with the requirements for "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code may comply with such requirements, and the Plan and Awards shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such requirements.

 

2.           Definitions.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a)          " Award " means any Restricted Share or Option granted under the Plan.

 

(b)          " Award Agreement " means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

(c)          " Board " means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)          " Change in Control " means a change in control of the Company, which will be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(i)          any "person," as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than (A) the Company, (B) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or (C) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Stock), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing one-third (33 1/3%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities;

 

 

 

 

(ii)         the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the Effective Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended;

 

(iii)        there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the Board, the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(iv)        the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets (or any transaction having a similar effect), other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sold or disposed of or, if such entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of (x) a Public Offering or (y) the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the holders of the Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

(e)          " Code " means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(f)          " Committee " means (i) the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee established by the Board to administer the Plan, the composition of which shall at all times satisfy the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect from time to time and Section 162(m) of the Code; or (ii) if no such committee has been established, the Board.

 

(g)          " Company " means Sachem Capital Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, or any successor corporation.

 

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(h)          " Effective Date " means October 27, 2016, the date that the Plan was adopted by the Board.

 

(i)           " Exchange Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(j)           " Fair Market Value " means, with respect to Stock or other property, the fair market value of such Stock or other property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in good faith, the per share Fair Market Value of Stock as of a particular date shall mean (i) the closing price per share of Stock on the national securities exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Stock is principally traded, for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Stock on such exchange or over-the-counter market, or (ii) if the shares of Stock are not then listed on a national securities exchange or traded in an over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.

 

(k)          " Grantee " means a person who, as a consultant, non-employee director, officer or other employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

(l)           " ISO " means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(m)         " Non-Employee Director " means any director of the Company who is not also employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(n)          " NQSO " means any Option that is not designated as an ISO.

 

(o)          " Option " means a right, granted to a Grantee under Section 6(b), to purchase shares of Stock. An Option may be either an ISO or an NQSO, provided that ISOs may be granted only to employees of the Company or Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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(p)          " Performance Goals " means performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles where applicable: (i) earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items; (ii) net income, before or after extraordinary or special items; (iii) return on equity (gross or net), before or after extraordinary or special items; (iv) earnings per share, before or after extraordinary or special items; and (v) stock price. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criterion or the attainment of an increase or decrease (expressed as absolute numbers of a percentage) in the particular criterion, and may be applied to one or more of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, or a division or strategic business unit of the Company, all as determined by the Committee. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be paid (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur). Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be evaluated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, where applicable, and shall be subject to certification by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or Subsidiary of the Company or the financial statements of the Company or Subsidiary of the Company, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principles.

 

(q)          " Plan " means this Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

(r)          " Plan Year " means a calendar year.

 

(s)          " Public Offering " means an offering of securities of the Company that is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(t)          “ Restricted Stock Award ” means the grant or purchase, on the terms, conditions and limitations that the Committee determines, of Stock that is nontransferable and subject to substantial risk of forfeiture until specific conditions are met.

 

(u)          " Stock " means common shares, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

(v)         " Subsidiary " means a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

3.           Administration.

 

The Plan shall be administered the Committee appointed by the Board for this purpose. If a Committee is appointed to administer the Plan, all references herein to the "Committee" shall be references to such Committee. If no Committee is appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, all references herein to the "Committee" shall be references to the Board. The Committee shall have the authority in its discretion, subject to and not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan, to administer the Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities either specifically granted to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, the authority to grant Awards; to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which Awards shall be granted; to determine the type and number of Awards to be granted, the number of shares of Stock to which an Award may relate and the terms, conditions, restrictions and performance criteria (if any) relating to any Award, including but not limited to the effect of a Change in Control upon any Award; to determine, at the time of grant or thereafter, whether and to what extent the vesting or payment of any Award may be accelerated; to determine Performance Goals no later than such time as required to ensure that an underlying Award which is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code so complies; and to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled, cancelled, forfeited, exchanged, or surrendered; to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the Performance Goals (if any) included in, Awards; to construe and interpret the Plan and any Award; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of the Award Agreements (which need not be identical for each Grantee); and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Board, the Committee nor their respective delegates shall have the authority to reprice (or cancel and regrant) any Award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price without first obtaining the approval of the Company's shareholders.

 

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The Committee may appoint a chairperson and a secretary and may make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable, and shall keep minutes of its meetings. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members either present in person or participating by conference telephone at a meeting or by written consent. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more agents such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such person may have under the Plan. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all persons, including but not limited to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Grantee (or any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Grantee) and any shareholder.

 

No member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted hereunder.

 

4.           Eligibility.

 

Awards may be granted to selected Non-Employee Directors, officers and other employees, advisors or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary in the discretion of the Committee. In determining the persons to whom Awards shall be granted and the type of any Award (including the number of shares to be covered by such Award), the Committee shall take into account such factors as the Committee shall deem relevant in connection with accomplishing the purposes of the Plan.

 

5.           Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved for the grant of Awards under the Plan shall be 1,500,000, subject to adjustment as provided herein. No more than 100,000 shares of Stock may be made subject to Awards to a single individual in a single Plan Year, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Determinations made in respect of the limitations set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be made in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code. Such shares may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares or shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If any shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the Grantee, or if shares of Stock are surrendered or withheld as payment of either the exercise price of an Award and/or withholding taxes in respect of an Award, the shares of Stock with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, withholding, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan.

 

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In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, stock, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or share exchange, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Stock such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Grantees under the Plan, then the Committee shall make such equitable changes or adjustments as it deems necessary or appropriate to any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares of Stock or other property (including cash) that may thereafter be issued in connection with Awards, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Stock or other property (including cash) issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price relating to any Award; provided, that, with respect to ISOs, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with Section 424 of the Code; and (iv) the Performance Goals applicable to outstanding Awards.

 

6.           Specific Terms of Awards.

 

(a)           General . The Committee is authorized to grant the Awards described in this Section 6, under such terms and conditions as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and conditions applicable to such Award as the Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary upon the grant, maturation, or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. The Committee may make rules relating to installment or deferred payments with respect to Awards, including the rate of interest to be credited with respect to such payments. In addition to the foregoing, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter, such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(b)           Options . The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Grantees on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)           Type of Award . The Award Agreement evidencing the grant of an Option under the Plan shall designate the Option as an ISO or a NQSO.

 

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(ii)          Exercise Price . In no event shall the exercise price of any Option be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of such Option unless, with respect to a NQSO, otherwise determined by the Committee. The exercise price for Stock subject to an Option may be paid in cash or by an exchange of Stock previously owned by the Grantee for at least six months (if acquired from the Company), through a "broker cashless exercise" procedure approved by the Committee (to the extent permitted by law), or a combination of the above, in any case in an amount having a combined value equal to such exercise price. An Award Agreement may provide that a Grantee may pay all or a portion of the aggregate exercise price by having shares of Stock with a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price withheld by the Company.

 

(iii)         Term and Exercisability of Options . Options shall be exercisable over the exercise period (which shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant), at such times and upon such conditions as the Committee may determine, as reflected in the Award Agreement; provided, that the Committee shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. An Option may be exercised to the extent of any or all full shares of Stock as to which the Option has become exercisable, by giving written notice of such exercise to the Committee or its designated agent.

 

(iv)         Other Provisions . Any Grantee who owns shares possessing more than 10% of the voting rights of the Company’s outstanding Stock, the exercise price of any ISO must be at least equal to 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of such Option and the term of such option may not be longer than five years. Options may be subject to such other conditions including, but not limited to, restrictions on transferability of the shares acquired upon exercise of such Options, as the Committee may prescribe in its discretion or as may be required by applicable law.

 

(v)         Restricted Stock.

 

(1) Compliance with Plan . All Restricted Stock Awards granted under the Plan shall comply with, and the related Award Agreements shall be subject to, the terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this Article Section 6(c) (to the extent each such term, condition or limitation applies to the form of Restricted Stock Award)

 

(2) Number of Shares . Each Award Agreement governing a Restricted Stock Award shall state the total number of shares of Stock to which it relates.

 

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(3) Other Provisions . Unless otherwise provided in the relevant Award Agreement, all shares of Stock granted or sold pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards made under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms, conditions and limitations:

 

(A)          Transferability . The shares may not be sold, transferred or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the restrictions are removed or expire.

 

(B)          Legend . Each certificate representing such shares shall bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed. The text of any such legend shall be determined by the Committee.

 

(C)          Possession . The Committee shall (1) require the Company to retain physical custody of certificates representing shares issued or transferred pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards during the restriction period and require the Holder of the Award to execute stock powers in blank for those certificates and deliver those stock powers to the Company, (2) require the Holder to enter into an escrow agreement providing that the certificates representing shares issued or transferred pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards shall remain in the physical custody of an escrow holder until all restrictions are removed or expire, or (3) take such other steps as the Committee may determine in order to enforce such restrictions.

 

(D)          Expiration or Removal of Restrictions . The restrictions imposed pursuant to this Section 6(c) on Restricted Stock Awards shall expire as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Expiration of the restrictions may be based on or conditioned on the passage of time, continuing employment or service as an employee or officer, achievement of Performance Goals, or other events, occurrences or conditions determined by the Committee. Each Restricted Stock Award may have different restrictions, including a different restriction period, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may remove any restriction or reduce any restriction period applicable to a particular Restricted Stock Award. Upon the expiration or removal of all restrictions, the Company shall deliver to the Holder of the Restricted Stock Award, as soon as practicable following the request of such Holder, a certificate representing the number of shares for which such restrictions have expired or been removed, free of any restrictive legend relating to the expired or removed restrictions.

 

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(E)          Rights as Shareholder . The Committee may determine what rights, if any, the Holder shall have with respect to the Restricted Stock Awards granted, including any right to vote the related shares or to receive dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto.

 

(F)          Other Conditions. The Committee may impose such other terms, conditions or limitations on any shares granted or sold pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards made under the Plan as it may deem advisable.

 

(G)          Compliance with Section 409A. Each Restricted Stock Award shall comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 409A, if applicable, and be operated in accordance with such requirements

 

7.            General Provisions

 

(a)           Nontransferability . Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Awards shall not be transferable by a Grantee except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Grantee only by such Grantee or his guardian or legal representative.

 

(b)           No Right to Continued Employment, etc . Nothing in the Plan or in any Award, any Award Agreement or other agreement entered into pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Grantee the right to continue in the employ of or to continue as a director of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company or to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or such Award Agreement or other agreement or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any such Parent or Subsidiary to terminate such Grantee's employment, or director or independent contractor relationship.

 

(c)           Taxes . The Company or any Subsidiary is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any other payment to a Grantee, amounts of withholding and other taxes due in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Grantees to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Grantee's tax obligations. The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement that in the event that a Grantee is required to pay any amount to be withheld in connection with the issuance of shares of Stock in settlement or exercise of an Award, the Grantee may satisfy such obligation (in whole or in part) by electing to have a portion of the shares of Stock to be received upon settlement or exercise of such Award equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld.

 

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(d)           Shareholder Approval; Amendment and Termination .

 

(i)          The Plan shall take effect upon its adoption by the Board but the Plan (and any grants of Awards made prior to the shareholder approval mentioned herein) shall be subject to the requisite approval of the shareholders of the Company. In the event that the shareholders of the Company do not ratify the Plan at a meeting of the shareholders at which such issue is considered and voted upon, then upon such event the Plan and all rights hereunder shall immediately terminate and no Grantee (or any permitted transferee thereof) shall have any remaining rights under the Plan or any Award Agreement entered into in connection herewith.

 

(ii)         The Board may at any time and from time to time alter, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that unless otherwise determined by the Board, an amendment that requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with Section 162(m) or any other law, regulation or stock exchange requirement shall not be effective unless approved by the requisite vote of shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment to or termination of the Plan shall affect adversely any of the rights of any Grantee, without such Grantee's consent, under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan.

 

(e)           Expiration of Plan . Unless earlier terminated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after such expiration date. The expiration of the Plan shall not affect adversely any of the rights of any Grantee, without such Grantee's consent, under any Award theretofore granted.

 

(f)           No Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

(g)          Regulations and Other Approvals.

 

(i)          The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Stock with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of non-U.S. jurisdictions, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

 

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(ii)         Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee determines, in its absolute discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Stock issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law or any applicable law, rule or regulation of a non-U.S. jurisdiction, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Stock, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Stock issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

 

(iii)        In the event that the disposition of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Stock shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations thereunder, and the Committee may require a Grantee receiving Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Stock, to represent to the Company in writing that the Stock acquired by such Grantee is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution.

 

(iv)        The Committee may require a Grantee receiving Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Stock, to enter into a shareholder agreement or "lock-up" agreement in such form as the Committee shall determine is necessary or desirable to further the Company's interests.

 

(h)           Governing Law . The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

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Exhibit 10.5

 

OPERATING AGREEMENT

for

SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

A Connecticut limited liability company

 

 

This Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement ("Agreement") of SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC ("LLC") is among JJV, LLC (the "Initial Member" and "Manager"), and each of the additional Persons who become Members (also known as “Partners”) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Any capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum dated as of January 1, 2011 (the "Memorandum").

 

RECITALS

 

The LLC is a limited liability company formed under the Connecticut Limited Liability Company Act. The other parties to this Agreement are the LLC’s Initial Member and those additional Persons who are subsequently admitted as Members in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The parties intend by this Agreement and the terms of the Memorandum to define their rights and obligations with respect to the LLC’s governance and financial affairs and to adopt regulations and procedures for the conduct of the LLC's activities. Accordingly, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is mutually acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS

 

1.1            Scope .           For purposes of this Agreement, unless the language or context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended, capitalized terms have the meanings specified in this Article.

 

1.2            Defined Terms.

 

(a)          "Act" means the Connecticut Limited Liability Company Act.

 

(b)          "Affiliate", with respect to a Person, means (1) a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Person, (2) a Person who owns or controls at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding voting interests of the Person, (3) a Person who is an officer, director, manager or general partner of the Person, or (4) a Person who is an officer, director, manager, general partner, trustee or owns at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding voting interests of a Person described in clauses (1) through (3) of this sentence.

 

(c)          "Agreement" means this agreement, including any amendments.

 

(d)          "Articles" means the Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of the State to organize the LLC as a limited liability company, including any amendments.

 

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(e)           " Bankruptcy " means the filing of a petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, readjustment, protection, relief or composition in any state or federal bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceeding.

 

(f)          “Capital Account” of a Member means the capital account maintained for the Member in accordance with Article 4.

 

(g)          “Capital Investment” of a Member means a Member’s original capital investment less any return of capital plus any additions to capital.

 

(h)          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(i)          "Contribution" means anything of value that a Member contributes to the LLC as a prerequisite for, or in connection with, membership including any combination of cash, property, services rendered, a promissory note or any other obligation to contribute cash or property or render services.

 

(j)          "Dissociation" means a complete termination of a Member's membership in the LLC due to an event described in Article 3.

 

(k)          "Distribution" means the LLC's direct or indirect transfer of money or other property to a Member with respect to a Membership Interest.

 

(l)          "Effective Date" means the date on which the LLC's existence as a limited liability company begins, as prescribed by the Act.

 

(m)          "Entity" means an association, relationship or artificial person through or by means of which an enterprise or activity may be lawfully conducted, including, without limitation, a partnership, trust, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, cooperative or association.

 

(n)          "Family," with respect to a Member, means individuals who are related to the Member by blood, marriage or adoption. For the purposes of this definition, an individual is related to the Member by marriage if the person is related by blood or adoption to the Member's current spouse.

 

(o)          "Initial Member" means the initial purchaser of Membership Interests.

 

(p)           " Manager " means a Person who is vested with authority to manage the LLC in accordance with Article 5.

 

(q)          "Member" means an Initial Member and any Person who is subsequently admitted as an additional or a substitute Member after the Effective Date, in accordance with Article 3.

 

(r)          "Membership Interest" means a Member's percentage interest in the LLC, which consists of the member’s right to share in profits, receive distributions, participate in the LLC's governance, approve the LLC's acts, participate in the designation and removal of the Manager and receive information pertaining to the LLC's affairs. The Membership Interests of the Initial Members are set forth in Article 3. Changes in Membership Interests after the Effective Date, including those necessitated by the admission and Dissociation of Members, will be reflected in the LLC's records. The allocation of Membership Interests as reflected in the LLC's records from time to time is presumed to be correct for purposes of this Agreement and the Act.

 

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(s)          “Minimum Gain” means minimum gain as defined in Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.

 

(t)          "Net Profits" is defined as the LLC's monthly gross income less the payment of the LLC's monthly operating expenses (such as brokerage commissions, insurance, interest on credit lines, capital expenses, and other normal operating expenses), Management Fee and Servicing Fee to the Manager, as defined herein, and an allocation of income for a loan loss reserve. All distributions will be made on a monthly basis, in arrears.

 

(u)          "Permitted Transferee", with respect to a Member, means another Member, a member of the Member's Family, or a trust for the benefit of the Member or a member of the Member's Family.

 

(v)          "Person" means a natural person or an Entity.

 

(w)          "Profit", as to a positive amount, and "Loss", as to a negative amount, mean, for a Taxable Year, the LLC's income or loss for the Taxable Year, as determined in accordance with accounting principles appropriate to the LLC ' s method of accounting and consistently applied.

 

(x)          "Regulations" means proposed, temporary or final regulations promulgated under the Code by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as amended.

 

(y)           " Taxable Year" means the LLC's taxable year as determined in Article 6.

 

(z)          "Transfer," as a noun, means a transaction or event by which ownership of any Membership Interest is changed or encumbered, including, without limitation, a sale, exchange, abandonment, gift, pledge or foreclosure. "Transfer," as a verb, means to affect a Transfer.

 

(aa)        "Transferee" means a Person who acquires any Membership Interest by Transfer from Member or another Transferee not admitted as a Member in accordance with Article 3.

 

ARTICLE 2 : THE LLC

 

2.1            Status.         

 

The LLC is a Connecticut limited liability company organized under the Act.

 

2.2            Name.

 

The LLC's name is SACHEM CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC.

 

2.3            Term.

 

The LLC's existence as a limited liability company will commence on the Effective Date and continue until dissolved or terminated under the Act or as described herein.

 

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2.4            Purpose.

 

The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Act, which includes, but is not limited to, the business of a mortgage lender for the purpose of making and arranging primarily commercial loans to the general public, acquiring existing commercial loans, and selling commercial loans, all of which are or will be secured by deeds of trust and mortgages on real estate throughout the United States. While the LLC will typically invest only in commercial first trust deeds, the LLC may opportunistically invest in commercial second trust deeds, with a focus on adhering to conservative loan-to value characteristics. The LLC may also opportunistically invest in residential (including mixed-use) and construction loans that offer a compelling risk/reward profile. The LLC may take any action incidental and conducive to the furtherance of that purpose.

 

2.5            Principal Place of Business.

 

The LLC's principal place of business is located at: 23 Laurel Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405. The LLC may change its principal place of business at any time.

 

2.6            Registered Agent.

 

The LLC's registered agent is: Jeffrey C. Villano, of 129 Catullo Drive, Guilford, Connecticut 06437. The LLC may change its registered agent at any time.

 

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP

 

3.1            Identification.

 

(a)           Membership.          The Manager will be the Initial Member, having made an initial contribution of One-Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,000.00). Upon admission of additional Members (also referred to as Partners), as set forth below, the Manager may withdraw and the LLC will redeem its capital contribution. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Manager from increasing its interest in the LLC on the same basis as any other person.

 

(b)           Additional and Substitute Members.          The LLC may admit additional or substitute Members (Partners) with the sole approval of the Manager. Except as set forth herein, the Manager may withhold approval of the admission of any Person for any or no reason. The Manager will not permit any person to become a member until such person has agreed to be bound by all the provisions of this Operating Agreement as amended as of the date of the proposed admission, and the terms of the Memorandum, and has delivered to the LLC a completed Subscription Agreement along with a check in the amount of such investment.

 

(c)           Rights of Additional or Substitute Members.          A Person admitted as an additional or substitute Member has all the rights and powers, and is subject to all the restrictions and obligations of a Member under this Agreement and the Act.

 

3.2            Withdrawal.

 

A Member may withdraw as a Member of the LLC and may receive a return of capital provided that the following conditions have been met: (i) the Member has been a Member of the LLC for a period of at least twenty-four (24) months; and (ii) the Member provides the LLC with a written request for a return of capital at least ninety (90) days prior to such withdrawal. The twenty-four (24) months will be rounded to the nearest quarter going forward. If the LLC does not receive a written request for a return of capital within the first twenty-four (24) months, the withdrawing Member automatically renews for another twenty-four (24) month period, and so forth on a rolling twenty-four (24) month basis. The LLC will use its best efforts to honor requests for a return of capital subject to, among other things, the LLC's then cash flow, financial condition, and prospective loans. The LLC at its sole discretion may charge a 2.5% redemption fee to the withdrawing partner. However, redemption requests will not be honored if they are detrimental to the LLC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, in its sole discretion, waive such withdrawal requirements if a Member is experiencing undue hardship.

 

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3.3            Restrictions on Transfer .

 

(a)           Restrictions on Transfer.          A Member may Transfer his, her or its Membership Interest only in compliance with this Article. Restrictions have been placed upon the ability of Investors to resell or otherwise dispose of any Membership interests purchased hereunder including, without limitation, the following:

 

(1)         the Membership Interests have not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), in reliance upon the exemptions provided for under Section 4(2) and Regulation D thereunder.

 

(2)         There is no public market for the Membership Interests and none is expected to develop in the future. Even if a potential buyer could be found, Membership Interests may not be resold or transferred without satisfying certain conditions designed to comply with applicable tax and securities laws, including, without limitation, provisions of the Act, Rule 144 thereunder, and the requirement that certain legal opinions be provided to the Manager with respect to such matters. A transferee must meet the same investor qualifications as the Members admitted during the Offering Period. Investors must be capable of bearing the economic risks of this investment with the understanding that Membership Interests may not be liquidated by resale or redemption and should expect to hold their Membership Interests as a long-term investment.

 

(3)         A legend will be placed upon all instruments evidencing ownership of Membership Interests in the LLC stating that the Membership Interests have not been registered under the Securities. Act of 1933, as amended, and set forth the foregoing limitations on resale. Notations regarding these limitations shall be made in the appropriate records of the LLC with respect to all Membership Interests offered hereby. The LLC will charge a minimum transfer fee of Five-Hundred Dollars ($500) per transfer of ownership. If a Member transfers Membership Interests to more than one person, except transferees who will hold title together, the transfer to each person will be considered a separate transfer.

 

(b)        Null and Void.          An attempted Transfer of all or a portion of a Membership Interest that is not in compliance with this Article will be null and void. No Membership Interest may be transferred if, in the judgment of the Manager, a transfer would jeopardize the availability of exemptions from the registration requirements of federal securities laws, jeopardize the tax status of the LLC as a LLC, or cause a termination of the LLC for federal income tax purposes.

 

(c)         Permitted Transfers.          A Member may at any time Transfer one or more Membership Interest to a Permitted Transferee if, as of the date the Transfer takes effect, the LLC is reasonably satisfied that all of the following conditions are met: (1) the conditions listed above have been met; (2) the Transferee is a person with the same qualifications as the original Member; (3) the Transfer, alone or in combination with other Transfers, will not result in the LLC's termination for federal income tax purposes; (4) the Transfer is the subject of an effective registration under, or exempt from the registration requirements of, applicable state and federal securities laws; (5) the LLC receives from the Transferee the information and agreements reasonably required to permit it to file federal and state income tax returns and reports; and (6) the LLC receives payment from the Transferee of a transfer fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) for each Transferee.

 

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(d)         Transfer of Membership Status.          If a Member Transfers less than all of his, her, or its Membership Interest, the Member's rights with respect to the transferred portion of the Membership Interest, including the right to vote or otherwise participate in the LLC's governance and the right to receive Distributions, will terminate as of the effective date of the Transfer. However, the Member will remain liable for any obligation with respect to the transferred portion that existed prior to the effective date of the Transfer, including any costs or damages resulting from the Member's breach of this Agreement. If the Member Transfers all of his, her or its Membership Interest, the Transfer will constitute an event of Dissociation.

 

(e)         Transferee's Status.

 

(1)          Admission as a Member. A Member who Transfers one or more Membership Interests has no power to confer on the Transferee the status of a Member. A Transferee may be admitted as a Member only in accordance with the provisions of this Article. A Transferee who wishes to become a Member must make application in writing to the LLC and provide evidence, as requested by the LLC, of compliance with all conditions to admission, as set forth above . Prior to admission, each proposed member must execute and deliver a counterpart of this Agreement, as amended to date, or a separate written agreement to be bound hereby. The LLC shall not without cause refuse the application for membership of a Transferee who has complied with all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(2)          Rights of Non-Member Transferee . A Transferee who is not admitted as a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Article: (i) has no right to vote or otherwise participate in the LLC's governance; (ii) is not entitled to receive information concerning the LLC's affairs or inspect the LLC's books and records; (iii) with respect to the transferred Membership Interests, is entitled to receive the Distributions to which the Member would have been entitled had the Transfer not occurred; and (iv) is subject to the restrictions imposed by this Article to the same extent as a Member. Any provision of the Agreement permitting or requiring the Members to take action by vote or written approval of a specified percentage of the Membership Interests shall be deemed to mean only Membership Interests then owned by Members.

 

3.4            Expulsion of a Member.          At any time there are more than two (2) Members, the LLC may expel a Member, but only for cause. Cause for expulsion exists if the Member has materially breached or is unable to perform the Member ' s material obligations under this Agreement. A Member ' s expulsion from the LLC will be effective upon the Member's receipt of written notice of the expulsion.

 

3.5            Return of Capital.          The LLC may return all or a portion of a Member's capital at the Manager's sole discretion. Any such return of capital would not be considered a distribution and would not be included in the determination of such Member's return on investment.

 

3.6            Upon Dissociation.          Upon the occurrence of any such event described in this Article (an event of "Dissociation"): (1) the Member's right to participate in the LLC's governance, receive information concerning the LLC s affairs and inspect the LLC’s books and records will terminate; and (2) unless the Dissociation resulted from the Transfer of the Member's Membership Interests, the Member will be entitled to receive the Distributions to which the Member would have been entitled as of the effective date of the Dissociation had the Dissociation not occurred. The Member will remain liable for any obligation to the LLC that existed prior to the effective date of the Dissociation, including any costs or damages resulting from the Member's breach of this Agreement. Under most circumstances, the Member will have no right to any return of his or her capital prior to the termination of the LLC unless the Manager elects to return capital to a Member. The effect of such Dissociation on the remaining Members who do not sell will be to increase their percentage share of the remaining assets of the LLC, and thus their proportionate share of its future earnings, losses and distributions. The reduction in the outstanding Membership Interests will also increase the relative voting power of remaining Members.

 

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3.7            Verification of Membership Interests.          Within thirty (30) days after receipt of a Member's written request, the LLC will provide such Member with a statement evidencing his, her, or its Membership Interest in the LLC.

 

3.8            Manner of Action by Members.

 

(a)         Meetings.

 

(1)          Right to Call.          The Manager, or any combination of Members holding in the aggregate more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the Membership Interest, may call a meeting of Members by giving written notice to all Members not less than thirty (30), or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the meeting. The notice must specify the date, time and place of the meeting and the nature of any business to be transacted. A Member may waive notice of a meeting of Members orally, in writing, or by attendance at the meeting.

 

(2)          Time and Place.          Unless otherwise specified in the notice of meeting, all meetings shall be held at 2:00 p.m. on a regular business day of the LLC, at the LLC's principal place of business. No meeting may be held on a Sunday or legal holiday; at a time that is before 8:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m.; or at a place more than fifty (50) miles from the LLC's principal place of business.

 

(3)          Proxy Voting.       A Member may act at a meeting of Members through a Person authorized by signed proxy.

 

(4)          Quorum.          Members whose aggregate holdings exceed two thirds of the outstanding Membership Interests will constitute a quorum at a meeting of Members. No action may be taken in the absence of a quorum.

 

(5)          Required Vote.          Except with respect to matters for which a greater minimum vote is required by the Act or this Agreement, the vote of Members present whose aggregate holdings exceed two thirds of the outstanding Membership Interests will constitute the act of the Members at a meeting of Members.

 

(b)        Written Consent.          The Members may act without a meeting by written consent describing the action and signed by Members whose aggregate holdings of the Membership Interest equal or exceed the minimum that would be necessary to take the action at a meeting at which all Members were present.

 

3.9            Limitation on Individual Authority .           A Member who is not also the Manager has no authority to bind the LLC. A member whose unauthorized act obligates the LLC to a third party will indemnify the LLC for any costs or damages the LLC incurs as a result of the unauthorized act.

 

3.10          Negation of Fiduciary Duties.          A Member who is not also the Manager owes no fiduciary duties to the LLC or to the other Members solely by reason of being a Member.

 

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3.11          Resignation of a Member.          A Member may resign from the LLC at any time by giving written notice to the LLC at least ninety (90) days prior to the effective date of resignation.

 

ARTICLE 4: FINANCE

4.1            Contributions.

 

(a)           Initial Member.           The Initial Member will contribute a total of One-Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,000.00) to the capital of the LLC, thereby purchasing a Membership Interest in the LLC.

 

(b)           Additional Members.          Upon raising the Minimum Offering Amount, investors' subscription funds will be released to the LLC and Membership Interests will be issued to such investors.

 

(c)           Additional Contributions.          The LLC may authorize additional contributions at such times and on such terms and conditions as it determines to be in its best interest. Absent the LLC's authorization, no Member is permitted to make additional Contributions.

 

(d)           Contributions Not Interest Bearing.          A Member is not entitled to interest or other compensation with respect to any cash or property the Member contributes to the LLC.

 

4.2            Allocation of Profit and Loss. After giving effect to special allocations, if any, the LLC’s Profit or Loss for a Taxable Year, including the Taxable Year in which the LLC is dissolved, will be allocated among the Members in proportion to their ownership interests in the LLC during the applicable tax reporting period.

 

4.3            Tax Allocations.          For federal income tax purposes, unless the Code otherwise requires, each item of the LLC's income, gain, loss or deduction will be allocated to the Members in proportion to their allocations of the LLC's Profit or Loss.

 

4.4            Monthly Distributions.

 

(a)         Each month, the Manager will account for the LLC's accrued Net Profits (defined hereafter) to the Members. To the extent that there is cash available, the Manager will distribute the accrued Net Profits in accordance with the Member’s election to receive such profits (see 4.5 below).

 

(b)       "Net Profits" is defined as the LLC's monthly gross income less the LLC's monthly operating expenses (such as brokerage commissions, insurance, interest on credit lines, capital expenses, and other normal operating expenses), Management Fee and Servicing Fee to the Manager, as defined herein, and an allocation of cash/income for a loan loss reserve . All distributions will be made on a monthly basis, in arrears.

 

(c)         The amount of income reported to each Member on his, her, or its Schedule K-l may differ somewhat from the actual cash distributions made during the fiscal year covered by the Schedule K-I due to, among other things, the loan loss reserve and factors unique to the tax accounting of LLCs, such as the treatment of investment expense.

 

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4.5            Reinvestment Election.          An Investor may elect to (i) receive monthly cash distributions from the LLC in the amount of that Member's share of Net Profits for distribution; or (ii) allow his, her, or its distributions to be reinvested and increasing its ownership interest in the LLC; or (iii) some combination of (i) and (ii). Such election will become effective on the first (1st) day of the month following receipt of the election. If no election is made, then the monthly distribution will be a cash distribution. An election to reinvest distributions is revocable with thirty (30) days’ notice to the LLC. Cash distributions reinvested by Investors who make such an election will be used by the LLC to make further mortgage loans or for other proper LLC purposes.

 

4.6            Capital Accounts.

 

(a)           General Maintenance. The LLC will establish and maintain a Capital Account for each Member. A Member's Capital Account balance will be:

 

(1)         increased by: (i) the amount of any money the Member contributes to the LLC's capital; and (ii) the Member's share of the LLC’s Profits and any separately stated items of income or gain; and

 

(2)         decreased by: (i) the amount of any money the LLC distributes to the Member; and (ii) the Member ' s share of the LLC’s Losses and any separately stated items of deduction or loss.

 

(b)          Transfer of Capital Account. A Transferee of Membership Interests succeeds to the portion of the transferor’s Capital Account that corresponds to the portion of Membership Interest that is the subject of the Transfer.

 

(c)          Compliance with Code. The requirements of this Article are intended and will be construed to ensure that the allocations of the LLC's income, gain, losses, deductions and credits have substantial economic effect under the Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code.

 

ARTICLE 5: MANAGEMENT

 

5.1            Representative Management.          The LLC will be managed by one Manager. By execution of this Agreement, and without prejudice to the right of the Members to remove the Manager as set forth in Article 5, the Initial Members and each Person hereafter admitted as a Member, other than Transferees, shall be deemed to have elected such Manager. The initial manager of the LLC shall be: JJV, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company.

 

5.2            Time Devoted to Business.          The Manager will devote to the LLC's activities the amount of time reasonably necessary to discharge the Manager's responsibilities.

 

5.3            Powers and Authority.

 

(a)           General Scope.           Except for matters on which the Members' approval is required by the Act or this Agreement, the Manager has full power, authority and discretion to manage and direct the LLC's business, affairs and properties, including, without limitation, the specific powers referred to in paragraph (b), below.

 

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(b)          Specific Powers .

 

(1)         The Manager is authorized on the LLC's behalf to make all decisions as to (i) the development, sale, lease or other disposition of the LLC's assets; (ii) the purchase or other acquisition of other assets of all kinds; (iii) the management of all or any part of the LLC's assets and business; (iv) the borrowing of money and the granting of security interests in the LLC's assets (including loans from Members) as, and only if, provided for in the Memorandum; (v) the prepayment, refinancing or extension of any mortgage affecting the LLC's assets; (vi) the compromise or release of any of the LLC's claims or debts; (vii) the employment of Persons for the operation and management of the LLC's business; and (viii) all elections available to the LLC under any federal or state tax law or regulation,

 

(2)         The Manager, on the LLC's behalf, may execute and deliver (i) all contracts, conveyances, assignments, leases, subleases, franchise agreements, licensing agreements, management contracts and maintenance contracts covering or affecting the LLC's assets; (ii) all cheeks, drafts and other orders for the payment of the LLC's funds; (iii) all promissory notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements and other similar documents; (iv) all articles, certificates and reports pertaining to the LLC's organization, qualification and dissolution; (v) all tax returns and reports; and (vi) all other instruments of any kind or character relating to the LLC's affairs.

 

5.4            Required Member Approval. Except as specifically provided herein, without the approval of the Members holding a majority of the issued and outstanding Membership Interests, the LLC may not take any action with respect to: (a) the sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge or other disposition of all or substantially all of the LLC's assets; (b) the LLC's merger with or conversion into another Entity; (c) an undertaking involving a debt or obligation which would exceed the amount provided for in the Memorandum; or (d) a transaction, not expressly permitted by this Agreement or memorandum, involving a conflict of interest between the Manager and the LLC.

 

5.5            Duties of Manager.

 

(a)          Fiduciary Duty.          The Manager shall have fiduciary responsibility for the safekeeping and use of all funds and assets of the LLC, whether or not in the Manager's possession or control. Except as expressly permitted herein, or by subsequent approval of the Members, the Manager shall not employ, or permit another to employ LLC funds or assets in any manner except for the exclusive benefit of the LLC.

 

(b)          Standard of Care.

 

(1)          Exculpation. The Manager will not be liable to the LLC or any Member for an act or omission done in good faith to promote the LLC's best interests, unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence, intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.

 

(2)          Justifiable Reliance. The Manager may rely on the LLC's records maintained in good faith and on information, opinions, reports or statements received from any Person pertaining to matters the Manager reasonably believes to be within the Person's expertise or competence.

 

(c)          Competing Activities.          The Manager may participate in any business or activity without accounting to the LLC or the Members. Each Member waives the benefit of the corporate opportunity doctrine, on his or her own behalf and on behalf of the LLC, and agrees that the Manager may deal in other real estate transactions for its own account and/or for the accounts of others without any requirement to account to the LLC for such dealings.

 

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(d)          Self-Dealing.          In addition to the transactions expressly permitted by this Agreement, the Manager may enter into business transactions with the LLC if the terms of the transaction are no less favorable to the LLC than those of a similar transaction with an independent third party, including selling loans to, and buying loans from, the LLC.

 

(e)          Specific Transactions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that the Manager shall be permitted to bargain for and accept the following transactions connected with the business of the LLC, subject to the terms of any other agreement among the Members:

 

(1)          Loan Origination Fees. The Manager shall serve as portfolio manager for the LLC, and in that connection may charge and retain 75% of the loan origination fees charged to borrowers by the LLC or paid directly to the Manager or Affiliate.

 

(2)          Real Estate Commissions. In the event the LLC acquires ownership of any real property, whether by foreclosure or otherwise, and the Manager decides to sell it, the Manager shall be allowed to receive such portion of the real estate commission as the real estate broker handling such sale is willing to share with the Manager, provided the total real estate commission does not exceed the rate then prevailing in the area where the property is located. The Manager may also bargain for and accept finder's fees, in lieu of a share of commission, from selling real estate brokers.

 

(3)          Sale of Real Property to Affiliates. In selling or otherwise disposing of real property owned by the LLC, the Manager may sell the same to one or more of its Affiliates, or to other organizations in which Manager or its Affiliates have an interest, provided the price and terms of such sale are at least as advantageous as the LLC could otherwise have obtained.

 

(4)          Purchase of Loans. The Manager may cause the LLC to purchase existing loans from the Manager and/or its Affiliates, provided such loans meet the underwriting standards applicable to other loans purchased by the LLC, no foreclosure has been initiated with respect to such loans, and the price paid by the LLC does not exceed the principal balance then owing upon such loan. no foreclosure has been initiated with respect to such loan, and the price paid by the LLC does not exceed the principal balance then owing upon such loan.

 

(5)          Reimbursement of Business Expenses. The LLC shall pay its own general administrative and operating expenses. It shall reimburse the Manager for any expenses incurred by the Manager that are properly considered ordinary and reasonable business expenses of the LLC, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, stationery, office supplies, postage, accounting and legal fees related to the LLC's business, notary, document preparation fees and escrow fees payable by the lender, and other ordinary and reasonable business expenses.

 

5.6            Indemnification of Manager .           Except as limited by law, the LLC shall indemnify the Manager for all expenses, losses, liabilities and damages the Manager actually and reasonably incurs in connection with the defense or settlement of any action arising out of or relating to the conduct of the LLC's activities, except an action with respect to which the Manager is adjudged to be liable for breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the LLC or the Members under the Act or this Agreement. The LLC shall advance the costs and expenses of defending actions against the Manager arising out of or relating to the management of the LLC, provided it first receives the written undertaking of the Manager to reimburse the LLC if ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification.

 

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5.7          Compensation to Manager and Affiliates. The LLC will compensate the Manager as follows for services rendered to or on behalf of the LLC:

 

(a)          Loan origination fees (“points”), loan application and processing fees, underwriting fees, document preparation fees, escrow fees, disbursement fees, warehousing fees, administration fees and other similar charges are paid to the Manager, an Affiliate, or third party.

 

(b)          If the LLC purchases an existing loan from a third party, the Manager or Affiliate will be paid a fee comparable to a loan origination fee. This fee will not exceed the discount received by the LLC for the purchase of said loan and the loan terms and conditions will be comparable or better than those for originating loans.

 

(c)          The Manager or Affiliate may have a real estate sales department or business affiliate that may handle the resale of properties taken back in foreclosure by the LLC. If the Manager or Affiliate elects to act as the listing agent, its compensation shall not exceed the prevailing rate in the area where the real property is located. As to out of state property, a local state real estate broker will be employed by the LLC and paid the prevailing commission.

 

(d)          The Manager, Affiliate, or third party servicer will supervise the servicing of loans owned by the LLC. This consists of billing and collecting loans owned by the LLC. Such servicer's compensation (not including attorneys’ fees, foreclosure fees and court costs, if needed) will be:

 

(1)       One-Twelfth (1/12 th ) of one percent (1%) of the total assets of the LLC, payable monthly from payments received by the LLC from the borrowers and shall be calculated based on the total assets of the LLC as of the 1 st of each month.

 

(2)       One-Twelfth (1/12th) of one-half percent (0.5%) to one percent (1%) of the total LLC loans, payable monthly (i.e., one-half percent (0.5%) to one percent (1%) per year) as Servicing Fee. The fee shall be collected monthly from the payments received by the LLC from the borrowers and shall be calculated based on the total assets of the LLC as of the 1 st day of each month.

 

(e)          Existing loans made throughout the United States may be purchased from the Manager, its Affiliates or third parties at (i) up to ten percent (10%) over the face value of such loans, or (ii) up to twenty percent (20%) over the face value if such loans include a prepayment penalty which, in the Manager's discretion, could be sold to a third party at such a premium, but only so long as any such loan satisfies the requirements provided herein.

 

(f)           The LLC will bear the cost of the annual tax preparation of the LLC's tax returns, any state and federal income tax clue, and any required independent audit reports required by agencies governing the business activities of the LLC.

 

(g)          The definition of Manager's Fees includes all of the fees described above.

 

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(h)          The Manager may, but has no obligation to, defer all or a portion of the Manager's Fees. In such event, the Manager will be entitled to recover the deferred fees at a later time.

 

(i)          Pursuant to Section 4.4 above, the Manager may be distributed a portion of the Net Profits based upon the performance of the LLC's loan portfolio (the "Performance Fee").

 

5.8            Tenure.

 

(a)           Term.          The Manager will serve until the earlier of (1) the Manager's resignation; (2) the Manager's removal; (3) the Manager's Bankruptcy; (4) as to a Manager who is a natural person, the Manager's death or adjudication of incompetency; and (5) as to a Manager that is an Entity, the Manager's dissolution. In any such event, a majority of the Members shall promptly elect a successor as Manager; provided, however, if the then Manager desires to appoint an Affiliate as the new Manager, then such Affiliate may become the Manager without Member approval.

 

(b)           Resignation. The Manager at any time may resign by written notice delivered to the Members at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the resignation.

 

(c)           Removal. The Members may remove the Manager if (1) the Manager commits an act of willful misconduct which materially adversely damages the LLC, or (2) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Membership Interests vote in favor of such removal.

 

ARTICLE 6: RECORDS AND ACCOUNTING

 

6.1            Maintenance of Records.

 

(a)           Required Records. The LLC will maintain, at its principal place of business, such books, records and other materials as are reasonably necessary to document and account for its activities, including without limitation, those required to be maintained by the Act.

 

(b)           Member Access. A Member and the Member’s authorized representative will have reasonable access to, and may inspect and copy, all books, records and other materials pertaining to the LLC or its activities. The exercise of such rights will be at the requesting Member’s expense.

 

(c)           Confidentiality. No Member or Manager will disclose any information relating to the LLC or its activities to any unauthorized person or use any such information for his or her or any other Person’s personal gain.

 

6.2            Financial Accounting.

 

(a)           Accounting Method. The LLC will account for its financial transactions using the accrual method of accounting.

 

(b)           Taxable Year. The LLC's Taxable Year is the LLC's annual accounting period, as determined by the Manager in compliance with Sections 441, 444 and 706 of the Code.

 

6.3            Reports.

 

(a)           Members. As soon as practicable after the close of each Taxable Year, and no later than March 15 th following each Taxable Year, the LLC will prepare and send to the Members such reports and information as are reasonably necessary to (1) inform the Members of the results of the LLC's operations for the Taxable Year, and (2) enable the Members to completely and accurately reflect their distributive Membership Interests of the LLC's income, gains, deductions, losses and credits in their federal, state and local income tax returns for the appropriate year.

 

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(b)           Periodic Reports. The LLC will complete and file any periodic reports required by the Act or the law of any other jurisdiction in which the LLC is qualified to do business.

 

6.4            Tax Compliance.

 

(a)           Withholding . If the LLC is required by law or regulation to withhold and pay over to a governmental agency any part or all of a Distribution or allocation of Profit to a Member:

 

(1)         the amount withheld will be considered a Distribution to the Member; and

 

(2)         if the withholding requirement pertains to a Distribution in-kind or an allocation of Profit, the LLC will pay the amount required to be withheld to the governmental agency and promptly take such action as it considers necessary or appropriate to recover a like amount from the Member, including offset against any Distributions to which the Member would otherwise be entitled.

 

(b)           Tax Matters Partner. The Manager, or a Person designated by the Manager, shall act as the "Tax Matters Partner" pursuant to Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code. The Tax Matters Partner will inform the Members of all administrative and judicial proceedings pertaining to the determination of the LLC's tax items and will provide the Members with copies of all notices received from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service regarding the commencement of a LLC-level audit or a proposed adjustment of any of the LLC's tax items. The Tax Matters Partner may extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against the Members attributable to any adjustment of any tax item. The LLC will reimburse the Tax Matters Partner for reasonable expenses properly incurred while acting within the scope of the Tax Matters Partner ' s authority.

 

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ARTICLE 7: DISSOLUTION

 

7.1            Events of Dissolution.          The LLC will dissolve upon the first of the following to occur: (a) the termination date stated in Article 2 or such later date if extended pursuant to Article 2; (b) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the LLC; (c) any event that makes the LLC ineligible to conduct its activities as a limited liability company under the Act; or (d) otherwise by option of law.

 

7.2            Effect of Dissolution .

 

(a)           Appointment of Liquidator. Upon the LLC's dissolution, the Manager (unless unwilling or unable to serve as such) shall serve as liquidator, and as such will wind up and liquidate the LLC in an orderly, prudent and expeditious manner in accordance with the following provisions of this Article. While serving as liquidator, the Manager shall have the same authority, powers, duties and compensation as before dissolution, except that the liquidator shall not acquire any additional assets for the LLC, and shall use its best efforts to liquidate the LLC's existing assets as rapidly as is consistent with receiving the fair market value thereof. If the Manager is unwilling or unable to serve as liquidator, or has resigned or been removed, the Members shall elect another person, who may be a Member, to serve as liquidator.

 

(b)           Distributions Upon Dissolution. The LLC will not cease to exist immediately upon the occurrence of an event of dissolution, but will continue until its affairs have been wound up. Upon dissolution of the LLC, the Liquidator will wind up the LLC's affairs by liquidating the LLC's assets as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair market value thereof, either by sale to third parties or by collecting loan payments under the terms of the loan(s) until a suitable sale can be arranged. All funds received by the LLC shall be applied to satisfy or provide for LLC debts and liabilities and the balance, if any, shall be distributed to Members on a pro-rata basis.

 

(c)           Time for Liquidation. The LLC will not immediately cease to exist upon the occurrence of an event causing its dissolution, but will continue until its affairs have been wound up. It is acknowledged and agreed that the assets of the LLC are illiquid, and will take time to sell. The liquidator shall liquidate the LLC's assets as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair market value thereof, either by sale to third parties or by collecting loan payments under the terms of the loans. Due to high prevailing interest rates or other factors, the LLC could suffer reduced earnings (or losses) if a substantial portion of its loan portfolio remains and must be liquidated quickly during the winding up period. Members who sell their Membership Interests prior to any such liquidation will not be exposed to this risk. Conversely, if prevailing interest rates have declined at a time when the loan portfolio must be liquidated, unanticipated profits could be realized by those Members who remained in the LLC until its termination.

 

(d)           Final Accounting. The liquidator will make proper accountings (1) to the end of the month in which the event of dissolution occurred, and (2) to the date on which the LLC is finally and completely liquidated.

 

(e)           Duties and Authority of Liquidator. The liquidator will make adequate provision for the discharge of all of the LLC's debts, obligations and liabilities. The liquidator may sell, encumber or retain for distribution in kind any of the LLC's assets. Any gain or loss recognized on the sale of assets will be allocated to the Members' Capital Accounts in accordance with the provisions of Article 4. With respect to any asset the liquidator determines to retain for distribution in kind, the liquidator will allocate to the Members' Capital Accounts the amount of gain or loss that would have been recognized had the asset been sold at its fair market value.

 

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(f)           Final Distribution. The liquidator will distribute any assets remaining after the discharge or accommodation of the LLC's debts, obligations and liabilities to the Members in proportion to their Capital Accounts. The liquidator will distribute any assets distributable in kind to the Members in undivided interests as tenants in common. A Member whose Capital Account is negative will have no liability to the LLC, the LLC's creditors or any other Member with respect to the negative balance.

 

(g)           Required Filings. The liquidator will file with the appropriate Secretary of the State such statements, certificates and other instruments, and take such other actions, as are reasonably necessary or appropriate to effectuate and confirm the cessation of the LLC's existence.

 

ARTICLE 8: GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

8.1            Amendments.          Except as otherwise provided herein, the Manager or any Member may propose, for consideration and action, an amendment to this Agreement or to the Articles. Except as otherwise provided herein, a proposed amendment will become effective at such time as it is approved by the Members holding a majority of the outstanding Membership Interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the LLC Manager will execute and file any amendment to the Articles required by the Act. If any such amendment results in inconsistencies between the Articles and this Agreement, this Agreement will be considered to have been amended in the specifics necessary to eliminate fine inconsistencies.

 

8.2            Power of Attorney. Each Member appoints the Manager, with full power of substitution, as the Member's attorney-in-fact, to act in the Member's name to execute and file (a) all certificates, applications, reports and other instruments necessary to qualify or maintain the LLC as a limited liability company in the states and foreign countries where the LLC conducts its activities, (b) all instruments that effect or confirm changes or modifications of the LLC or its status, including, without limitation, amendments to the Articles, and (c) all instruments of transfer necessary to effect the LLC's dissolution and termination. The power of attorney granted by this Article is irrevocable, coupled with an interest and shall survive the death of the Member.

 

8.3            Binding Arbitration. Any dispute under this Agreement will be resolved under the then prevailing rules of the American Arbitration Association in the county of the LLC's principal place of business.

 

8.4            Notices. Notices contemplated by this Agreement may be sent by any commercially reasonable means, including hand delivery, first class mail, facsimile, email or private courier. The notice must be prepaid and addressed as set forth in the LLC's records. The notice will be effective on the date of receipt or, in the case of notice sent by first class mail, the fifth (5 th ) day after mailing.

 

8.5            Resolution of Inconsistencies. If there are inconsistencies between this Agreement and the Articles, the Articles will control. If there are inconsistencies between this Agreement and the Act, this Agreement will control, except to the extent the inconsistencies relate to provisions of the Act that the Members cannot alter by agreement. If there are inconsistencies between this Agreement and the Memorandum, the Memorandum will control. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless the language or context clearly indicates a different intent, the provisions of this Agreement pertaining to the LLC's governance and financial affairs and the rights of the Members upon Dissociation and dissolution will supersede the provisions of the Act relating to the same matters.

 

8.6            Provisions Applicable to Transferees . As the context requires and subject to the restrictions and limitations imposed by the provisions of this Agreement, the rights and obligations of a Member also govern the rights and obligations of the Member's Transferee.

 

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8.7            Additional Instruments. Each Member will execute and deliver any document or statement necessary to give effect to the terms of this Agreement or to comply with any law, rule or regulation governing the LLC's formation and activities.

 

8.8            Computation of Time. In computing any period of time under this Agreement, the day of the act or event from which the specified period begins to run is not included. The last day of the period is included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which case the period will run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. For purposes of this paragraph, a day shall be deemed to end at 5:00 p.m. in the time zone where the LLC then maintains its principal place of business.

 

8.9            Entire Agreement . The Agreement and the Articles comprise the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the LLC. This Agreement and the Articles supersede any prior agreements or understandings with respect to the LLC. No representation, statement or condition not contained in this Agreement or the Articles has any force or effect.

 

8.10.          Waiver . No right under this Agreement may be waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by the party sought to be charged with the waiver.

 

8.11          General Construction Principles . Words in any gender are deemed to include other genders. The singular is deemed to include the plural and vice versa. The headings and underlined paragraph titles are for guidance only and have no significance in the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

8.12          Binding Effect. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement relating to the transferability of Membership Interests and the tights of Transferees, this Agreement is binding on and will inure to the benefit of the LLC, the Members and their respective distributees, successors and assigns.

 

8.13          Governing Law . The law of the LLC's principal place of business shall govern the construction and application of the terms of this Agreement.

 

8.14          Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed invalid, unenforceable or illegal, then notwithstanding such invalidity, unenforceability or illegality, the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

 

8.15          Counterparts, Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be considered an original as to the party signing it. Facsimile signatures shall have the same legal effect as original signatures.

 

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Signature Page to Operating Agreement

 

FOR GOOD AND VALID CONSIDERATION, the receipt, understanding and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Investor, intending to be legally bound, has executed this Operating Agreement this ___________ day of _________________________, 20________.

 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Entity (if applicable) (printed or typed)

 

_______________________________________

Investor Signature

 

_______________________________________

Name and title (if applicable) of person signing

 

_______________________________________

Co-Investor Signature

 

_______________________________________

Name and title (if applicable) of person signing

 

_______________________________________

Co-Investor Signature

 

_______________________________________

Name and title (if applicable) of person signing

 

_______________________________________

Co-Investor Signature

 

_______________________________________

Name and title (if applicable) of person signing

 

INITIAL MEMBERS AND MANAGER, DATED ______________ :

 

John L. Villano, CPA       Jeffrey C. Villano

 

Managing Partners, on behalf of JJV, LLC

 

A Connecticut limited liability company

  

  18  

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

 

 

We consent to the use in this registration statement on Form S-11 of our report dated August 9, 2016, relating to the financial statements of Sachem Capital Partners, LLC as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for the years then ended (which report expresses an unqualified opinion on the financial statements) appearing in the prospectus, which is part of this registration statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such prospectus.

 

 

 

Hoberman & Lesser, CPAs, LLP

October 28, 2016

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

I hereby consent to be nominated for election as a director and/or selected as an executive officer of the Company and agree to serve if elected as a director and/or selected as an executive officer. I understand that the information that I am furnishing to you herein will be used by the Company in the preparation of its Periodic Filings as well as for additional purposes, such as state regulatory reports, throughout the fiscal year. Accordingly, I will promptly notify the Company of any changes in the foregoing answers.

 

   8/4/16     /s/ Arthur L. Goldberg
Date   Signature
     
           Arthur L. Goldberg
    Print Name

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

I hereby consent to be nominated for election as a director and/or selected as an executive officer of the Company and agree to serve if elected as a director and/or selected as an executive officer. I understand that the information that I am furnishing to you herein will be used by the Company in the preparation of its Periodic Filings as well as for additional purposes, such as state regulatory reports, throughout the fiscal year. Accordingly, I will promptly notify the Company of any changes in the foregoing answers. 

 

   8/8/16     /s/ Leslie Bernhard
Date   Signature
     
           Leslie Bernhard
    Print Name

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.3 

 

I hereby consent to be nominated for election as a director and/or selected as an executive officer of the Company and agree to serve if elected as a director and/or selected as an executive officer. I understand that the information that I am furnishing to you herein will be used by the Company in the preparation of its Periodic Filings as well as for additional purposes, such as state regulatory reports, throughout the fiscal year. Accordingly, I will promptly notify the Company of any changes in the foregoing answers.

 

 

10/27/16      /s/ Brian A. Prinz
Date   Signature
     
    Brian A. Prinz
    Print Name